Duchscherer undergoing back procedure, Damon scratched

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

April 03, 2011, 8:30am

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Orioles officially placed left-hander Brian Matusz on the disabled list today with a strained left intercostal muscle. Zach Britton takes his place on the roster and in the rotation. Pitcher Justin Duchscherer will undergo an ablation this week on his lower back, which is a procedure that uses radio frequency to heat up the nerves, interrupts the nerve signals and decreases the pain. It's not an invasive procedure, and a player usually is shut down for four or five days. Duchscherer underwent the same procedure last year. For now, he's still targeting the April 21 start. Stay tuned. Also, Johnny Damon has been scratched from the Rays lineup with a sore calf muscle. And third baseman Evan Longoria is headed to the disabled list with an oblique injury. Here's the new lineup: Upton CF E. Johnson SS Zobrist 2B Ramirez DH Shoppach C Rodriguez 3B D. Johnson 1B Joyce RF Fuld LF Davis RHP