Rehabbing Roberts could return this weekend

BALTIMORE -- Brian Roberts continued his rehab with Triple-A Norfolk with a pair of games on Thursday, and he could rejoin the Orioles on Saturday or Sunday -- more likely Sunday -- manager Buck Showalter said.

"We have a chance to see Brian sometime over the weekend," Showalter said before the game. "He's progressing well."

The plan was for Roberts, who will be the team's starting second baseman when activated, to play the field and finish a suspended game for Norfolk before serving as designated hitter in the second game Thursday. Showalter spoke with Roberts after Wednesday night's game, in which he walked in both plate appearances, and said that the infielder's pending return doesn't necessarily mean Ryan Flaherty's and Alexi Casilla's roster spots are in jeopardy.

All three made the club's Opening Day roster, with Flaherty assuming the bulk of the time at second base when Roberts landed on the disabled list. The 35-year-old Roberts played just three games this season due to a right hamstring injury that required surgery, and he has appeared in just 118 games since the beginning of the 2010 season.

Outfielder Nolan Reimold, who had his rehab assignment extended, could rejoin the O's next week in Chicago. Reimold went 3-for-6 with Double-A Bowie on Wednesday, and he is expected to remain with that affiliate through the weekend.

"The good news is his leg feels really good. He's not having any problems with the [right] hamstring," Showalter said. "It's just getting comfortable at-bat-wise. He had three hits yesterday, and I'm hoping that kind of gets him going. He's not far away. But some of the stuff he had done in the offseason, this is going to be good for him to play consistently like this and know his body is going to respond."