Steve Pearce still shelved with stomach virus

NEW YORK - Steve Pearce continues to battle a stomach virus, which explains his absence from tonight's lineup.

Pearce was removed from Sunday's game against the Rays at Tropicana Field and he's not feeling any better today.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter wrote out two lineups this afternoon before deciding to sit Pearce and start Jimmy Paredes at second base.

"Just a little under the weather right now," Pearce said. "Just hope I'm at the very end of this thing and hopefully I'll get out there and get an at-bat later on in the game and hopefully be better tomorrow. It's just a stomach virus. I'm just trying to get over it right now and do what I can.

"I'm just going to rest. I've hit in the cage. I'll try to save my energy and hopefully, if I have a chance to get an at-bat later, I'll be able to do that."

Pearce isn't certain that he'll be able to answer the bell if called upon tonight.

"I don't know," he said, "but I'll try my hardest to prepare as if I would get one (at-bat)."

Pearce became ill Sunday morning and tried to play through it before Rey Navarro pinch-hit for him.

"Rough day," Pearce said. "I was giving everything I had to try to stay out there and I just couldn't do it anymore. They saw my face and how I was acting that it was time to come out."

Pearce spent most of yesterday in bed, since the Orioles were off.

"I was trying to get past whatever it is I've got," he said. "Drinking a lot of fluids and just trying to get some rest."

Showalter saw Pearce in the batting cage as he walked to the dugout to meet with reporters.

"He's still somewhat weak," Showalter said. "He's getting there, but he still has a little bit of symptoms. He went to the hospital when we got back from Tampa and took some IV fluids. He's getting there. He's available if we need him to pinch-hit or double switch. I don't think he's quite there."

Matt Wieters caught six innings today in extended spring training and made a few throws on stolen base attempts. Hunter Harvey will pitch three innings Wednesday at extended spring. Reliever Wesley Wright made 50 throws from 90 feet. Jonathan Schoop had fluid drained again from his right knee.

The Orioles are waiting for Wieters to catch consecutive days before they can begin to formulate a plan for his rehab assignment.

"I don't know yet how many days he's taking off before his next outing, so to speak, catching," Showalter said. "I don't know if it will be tomorrow. I kind of doubt it. When we see him catching back-to-back days, we'll have a better feel on his projection."

Showalter seems encouraged after checking on shortstop J.J. Hardy, who joined Ryan Flaherty yesterday on an injury rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie. Flaherty seems assured of coming off the disabled list Friday and Hardy's chances may have increased.

It depends, of course, on how Hardy feels the next few days. He's also scheduled to play Wednesday night at Bowie.

"Yesterday was real encouraging for both of them," Showalter said.

"So far, so good. I feel pretty confident if he doesn't have any setbacks, Ryan will be here on Friday. See how each day goes with J.J. We're going to kind of go on how he feels."

Catcher Steve Clevenger (thumb) was activated from Triple-A Norfolk's disabled list.

Left-hander Daniel Rodriguez has been reinstated from Norfolk's disabled list and assigned on loan to Saltillo of the Mexican League.