Schoop nearing rehab assignment

With Jonathan Schoop's strained oblique muscle healing at the desired pace, the Orioles are hoping that their second baseman comes off the disabled list on May 8 following their upcoming West Coast trip to Anaheim and Oakland.

Schoop is flying to Sarasota on Sunday and will play Wednesday and perhaps Thursday in extended spring training games. He's scheduled to join Double-A Bowie no later than next Friday on his rehab assignment.

"I feel good. I'm progressing good and I'm ahead of schedule," he said.

"I feel pretty good. I'm working hard and I want to be out there."

Schoop said he's been pain-free for about a week, but a cautious approach is necessary when dealing with an oblique.

"This injury they say is tricky, so you don't want to force it and have it happen again and be two months out," he said. "I'm careful with it and working hard to be stronger.

"I think it's more mind, too. I know it's tricky, but that's why I work hard on my core so when I get back I'm not thinking about it. And the goal is to go out there and compete and try to win."

Schoop hasn't played since collecting two hits on April 13 in Boston. He was 4-for-8 in his last two games.

Asked how many at-bats he might need before coming off the disabled list, Schoop replied, "I think three games will be enough."

"It's not that I want to say the minor leagues are different, but the pitching up here is different. I want to come up here and try to help the team right away. I don't want to come up here and try to get my timing down. I want to come up here and contribute right away."

The Orioles could use it. They've lost 13 of their last 15 games and are buried in last place in the American League East. The season is unraveling fast.

"It's really tough to watch," he said. "We're going through a really bad stretch, but hopefully it ends today. Hopefully, we start a winning streak. Yesterday, we got a lot of hits and things started to go our way and hopefully, we can keep it up.

"It's tough, but we believe in each other, we believe in ourselves. It's still early but we've got to start winning some games. If we want to go to the playoffs we've got to start winning some games. Everybody believes in each other and everybody cheers for each other. Hopefully, it will start today."

Third baseman Tim Beckham took a mile-long walk today with head athletic trainer Brian Ebel while beginning his rehab from core muscle surgery.

Mark Trumbo is playing right field and leading off tonight for Triple-A Norfolk in Charlotte.

Colby Rasmus was scheduled to begin hitting today in Sarasota.