Pregame notes on Lindstrom, Reynolds, Tejada and more (O's lead 2-0)

WASHINGTON - Reliever Matt Lindstrom said he'll probably throw during the next homestand that begins Monday against the Boston Red Sox. Lindstrom, on the disabled list with a partial tear of a ligament in his right middle finger, will have a better idea of when he'll report to extended spring training once he picks up a ball. Lindstrom is eligible to come off the DL on May 26. "It won't take long," he said. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Mark Reynolds (oblique) is "just about pain-free." Mark_Reynolds-sidebar_at-bat.jpg"He hasn't really done any swinging yet," Showalter added. Showalter also said outfielder Endy Chavez (intercostal) is "doing well." Executive vice president Dan Duquette texted Showalter with news that Miguel Tejada would report to Triple-A Norfolk today and be eligible to play tomorrow. "I haven't seen him play," Showalter said. "I just heard that everything seemed to be going OK. There was a need in Norfolk and he was ready to go. See how everything goes. There's no real concrete plan. Just kind of wait and see. "First of all, you've got to have a need." Showalter assumes that Norfolk manager Ron Johnson will move Tejada around, giving him starts at third base and shortstop and using him as the designated hitter. "I'd just be guessing," Showalter said. Asked if Tejada could play first base, Showalter said, "I'd just be completely guessing. I wouldn't see him getting in front of Joe Mahoney. I can tell you that. That's my first blush. "If you want to know who our third catcher is, there it is." He was kidding. So, is Showalter more comfortable having Jason Hammel bat tonight than his other pitchers, since the right-hander spent the last three seasons with the Colorado Rockies? "No," Showalter said, bringing laughter from reporters. "Jake (Arrieta) didn't get us off to too good of a start there last night. I told John Russell, it looks like the best contribution he can make tonight is make sure he sees three pitches, make him (Edwin Jackson) throw three pitches. Get a little closer to the 100-pitch mark." Hammel is a career .126 hitter in 159 at-bats. He was 7-for-46 (.152) last season, but that includes a double, home run and four RBIs. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is 5-for-14 with a double, home run and three RBIs lifetime against Hammel. Nick Markakis is 3-for-6 against Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler. Here are the pitching matchups for the Boston series at Camden Yards: Monday: Tommy Hunter (2-2, 4.78 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz (4-2, 7.77 ERA) Tuesday: Brian Matusz (3-4, 5.36 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront (4-1, 4.09 ERA) Wednesday: Jake Arrieta (2-4, 4.72 ERA) vs. Daniel Bard (3-5, 4.85 ERA) Update: J.J. Hardy was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Markakis' grounder to Zimmerman in the first inning - he was given a triple after left fielder Roger Bernadina misplayed the ball - but Robert Andino gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-out single that scored Wilson Betemit and Xavier Avery. Betemit singled and Avery walked. Steve Tolleson and Hammel laid down sacrifice bunts. Welcome to National League-style baseball.



And then along came Jones (and Markakis)
Tonight's O's-Nationals live blog
 

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