masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter said reliever Matt Lindstrom has a slight tear in a ligament in his right middle finger. The good news is it’s not a full tear.

Dr. Thomas Graham, a specialist based in Cleveland, will re-examine Lindstrom’s finger. Lindstrom will stay back in Baltimore while the Orioles play two games in Kansas City. He has no immediate plans to report to extended spring training in Sarasota.

Lindstrom sounded optimistic that he’d be ready to come off the disabled list when…Orioles manager Buck Showalter said reliever Matt Lindstrom has a slight tear in a ligament in his right middle finger. The good news is it’s not a full tear.

Dr. Thomas Graham, a specialist based in Cleveland, will re-examine Lindstrom’s finger. Lindstrom will stay back in Baltimore while the Orioles play two games in Kansas City. He has no immediate plans to report to extended spring training in Sarasota.

Lindstrom sounded optimistic that he’d be ready to come off the disabled list when his 15 days are up. He also classified the injury as a “strained” ligament.

Showalter said a second epidural injection for outfielder Nolan Reimold is a “probability.” Reimold also will stay in Baltimore while the Orioles visit Kansas City.

Second baseman Brian Roberts will make the trip to Kansas City. He continues to take batting practice and infield, but we don’t have a firm date for his first rehab game.

Backup catcher Taylor Teagarden, who had three epidural injections for his lower back, is back on a trunk stabilization program. He’s feeling much better.

Zach Britton is expected to make his third start in extended spring training on Monday. The Orioles want him facing an opposing team, rather than arranging a simulated game for him on Sunday.

Britton did face two Red Sox major leaguers today who are rehabbing at extended spring training. They batted against him every inning on the Camden Yards field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Don’t have the names.

Orioles pitchers are taking early batting practice in preparation for this weekend’s interleague series in Washington. Showalter said two of the three scheduled starters from among Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen look pretty good handling the bat.

“I’m not expecting anyone to square up Strasburg,” he said, grinning.

Asked if there’s added excitement for him because the Orioles are playing a beltway rival, Showalter replied, “If it’s important to our fans, it’s important to us.”