Brian Roberts isn't expected to come off the disabled list during this homestand. The Orioles are deciding whether to let him play in Toronto or Kansas City. "Brian Roberts has stated that he wishes to come with us on the road trip, so we'll see what the medical people say and when they turn it over to the baseball people and see what the decision's going to be," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "For me, the ideal place for him is Kansas City. I don't know if we want him coming back...

For the Orioles: Felix Pie LF Miguel Tejada 3B Nick Markakis RF Luke Scott DH Ty Wigginton 1B Adam Jones CF Scott Moore 2B Craig Tatum C Cesar Izturis SS Jake Arrieta RHP For the Rays: Zobrist 2B Crawford LF Longoria 3B Pena 1B Joyce RF Aybar DH Jaso C Upton CF Brignac SS Garza RHP

You asked (through Ben Goessling's in-game chats), and Nats Buzz answered. We'll try to do more of these throughout the season, featuring new faces and players who you don't usually hear much about. First up is Joel Peralta, new to the organization after stints with the Angels, Royals and Rockies. Peralta was called up to join the Nationals on June 21st after going 2-0 with 20 saves and a 1.08 ERA in 28 appearances with the Syracuse Chiefs. Since the callup, Peralta has pitched in 13...

Orioles 2005 first-round draft pick Brandon Snyder returns to Aberdeen tonight. Snyder, who played for the IronBirds in parts of 2005 and 2006, will play the next three games with Aberdeen on an injury-rehab assignment. Snyder is coming back from an upper back injury and has not played for Triple-A Norfolk since June 17. He is batting .255-5-28 in 64 games and was hitting .327 in June at the time of the injury. My Orioles minor league tour continues tonight in Aberdeen after Bowie last...

I need to feel better about the cavalry tonight, so I'm counting on rookie right-hander Jake Arrieta. No pressure, kid. Just give me somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Will Ohman retires a left-hander to carry the game into the eighth. David Hernandez serves as the bridge to closer Alfredo Simon, who locks up a 4-2 victory. Nothing to it. Mark Hendrickson still isn't available after throwing a season-high 4 1/3 innings on Sunday. Matt Albers also can't be...

Syracuse Chiefs pitcher Matt Chico has not allowed a run in two consecutive starts, a span of 14 innings in a pair of home-and-away matchups against Pawtucket. The numbers are impressive in those last two starts: 14.0 IP, 6 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts. His shutout streak is currently 14 innings. Chico (4-3, 3.00) says the key to his recent success has been "hitting both sides of the plate. I have been using the two-seam fastball a lot. The changeup has been pretty good lately. ...

For any O's fan it was a positive sight. Seeing Brian Roberts take the field in Bowie last night. Even though he had on a Baysox uniform, the mannerisms and actions out at second base looked quite familiar. After watching Roberts play and talking with him before and after the game, this thought came to mind: This time Roberts may actually make it back on the field. He looked good in the game vs. Binghamton, going 2 for 5, and is now 10 for 20 in six injury rehab games. Bigger tests will...

The Tigers need a third baseman. Brandon Inge broke his hand and will miss the next four to six weeks. The Orioles have a third baseman, Miguel Tejada, who is drawing interest from a few teams, including the Padres. I'm not above playing matchmaker. Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer last night at Triple-A Norfolk, and Single-A Frederick's Xavier Avery came within a triple of the cycle. The Orioles were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position last night, but I doubt that many people...

CINCINNATI, OH. --- Right fielder Willie Harris was a picture of frustration in the clubhouse after the Reds slammed the door on the Nationals 7-2 in the series opener at Great American Ball Park. Harris had one arm leaning against his locker as he recounted the second inning where the Reds scored four times. It held up because Johnny Cueto was on target, allowing only four hits in six innings. The critical rally for the Reds came with no score in the bottom of the second inning. Jonny...

After playing five games in the day time in the Gulf Coast League, Brian Roberts' comeback took another step tonight as he played for the Double-A Bowie Baysox. "There is nobody in the stands (in the GCL) and you're playing at Noon, you are just trying to wake up at that point," Roberts said. "Nice to play a night game and get back into the normal routine of the season. The fans were fun." Roberts had a double in the first and RBI single in the second, going 2 for 5 with two runs...