Updates on Strop, Teagarden, Reimold and Chen

Pedro Strop will accompany the Orioles to Houston and pitch in a simulated game Tuesday. Strop, on the disabled list with a strained lower back, has thrown two bullpen sessions and performed a drill off a mound over the past four days. He will throw another bullpen session following the simulated game before the Orioles decide whether to send him on an injury-rehab assignment. Taylor Teagarden caught eight innings last night in his second injury-rehab game at Triple-A Norfolk. He will serve as the Tides' designated hitter today and could be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. "We'll see where we are at the end of the day in a lot of ways," said manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles could decide to keep Teagarden on his assignment if they don't think he's ready to be activated. Outfielder Nolan Reimold will remain in Baltimore while the Orioles are on the road this week. He could leave from here to go on an injury-rehab assignment. He's on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. It's been exactly three weeks since Wei-Yin Chen strained his right oblique in Minnesota, and the extent of his activity is jogging in a pool. There's no timeframe for his return to the active roster. Best-case scenario is probably the middle of June. The Orioles will have a better idea once he throws off a mound without pain. J.J. Hardy played his 1,000th game at shortstop yesterday and homered twice His .982 career fielding percentage at shortstop is tied with former Oriole and current MASN analyst Mike Bordick for third-best all-time among players with at least 1,000 games at shortstop. They trail Omar Vizquel (.985) and Jimmy Rollins (.983). Troy Tulowitzki has a .986 fielding percentage in 789 games at shortstop. Hardy has 145 career homers, the seventh-most by a shortstop in 1,000 games since 1921 behind Alex Rodriguez (258), Ernie Banks (252), Nomar Garciaparra (181), Cal Ripken Jr. (166), Miguel Tejada (166) and Vern Stephens (148), according to STATS. The Orioles have 14 consecutive stolen bases since Nick Markakis was caught on May 18. They were 25 of 29 in May, ranking second in the American League in total steals and stolen base percentage (86.2). According to STATS, since the start of 2012, Nate McLouth has the highest stolen base percentage (93.2, 30-32) among players with 30 or more steals. Manny Machado has been held hitless in consecutive games for the first time this season. The Orioles have allowed 77 homers in 500 2/3 innings. According to STATS, the Orioles' 1.38 homers allowed per nine innings is second only to Houston's 1.39.