Pearce at least week away from baseball activity

BALTIMORE -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter said on Wednesday that Steve Pearce would not make his Aug. 3 eligibility to come off the 15-day disabled list.

Pearce spoke with media earlier in the week, saying he was hopeful to return on that date, but it's looking like his left oblique strain will not be healed in time. The Baltimore utility man has not been able to take part in any baseball activity since the injury, and Showalter said Pearce is still about a week away from doing so.

Showalter did say that Pearce has seen improvements, however. He no longer feels the effects of the oblique injury when he sleeps or breathes and is able to bend over and tie his shoes without any pain.

"I think it's going to be an inch-along thing," Showlater said. "He's not going to make the DL period, we knew that."

Pearce was hitting .227/.290/.392 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 58 games this season, and had made starts in right field, left field, first base and second base.