Updates on Roberts, Betemit, Pearce and more

Brian Roberts is expected to play nine innings at second base tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, drive to Baltimore Saturday morning and come off the disabled list on Sunday. The Orioles would prefer that he avoid traveling on the day that he's activated and inserted into the lineup. Roberts isn't coming here to sit on the bench. He's going directly into the lineup, most likely batting ninth. Infielder Wilson Betemit resumed baseball-related activities today in Sarasota. He was shut down for a few days because of some soreness. Outfielder Steve Pearce still hasn't been cleared to start baseball activities. He's bothered by soreness in both wrists, especially the left. Minor league infielder Jonathan Schoop, on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his lower back, continues to take dry swings in Sarasota. The Orioles are hopeful that he will be cleared to start playing no later than July 17. Bullpen coach Bill Castro will accompany left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to Double-A Bowie for Saturday's injury-rehab start against Harrisburg. The Orioles want someone who is familiar with Chen and can evaluate whether he's ready to be activated. Einar Diaz will serve as the Orioles' bullpen coach on Saturday. Today is T.J. McFarland's 90th day with the Orioles, which coincides with is first major league start. It's an important milestone for complicated reasons. McFarland retains his Rule 5 status, which means he can't be optioned to the minors without passing through waivers and being offered back to the Indians. However, the Orioles could keep him on the disabled list for the rest of the season if he were injured and still have the freedom to option him in 2014. This rule is in place to prevent teams from taking a player in the Rule 5 draft, creating an imaginary injury and stashing him for the entire season. The player must be on the 25-man roster for at least 90 days. The Yankees claim that left-hander CC Sabathia was always scheduled to start tonight, but a mix-up in the game notes caused right-hander David Phelps to be listed. Not everyone is buying that excuse, and I mean individuals on both sides. Sounds pretty sketchy. Single-A Frederick left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, chosen to the Futures Game, has been promoted to Double-A Bowie. Baysox catcher Brian Wards was placed on the seven-day disabled list.