Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts to have back examined | Baseball

SARASOTA, Fla. — Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is returning to Baltimore to see a specialist for an ailing back that has kept him out of games this spring.

"I'm just going there to see a back doctor and just make sure we're progressing in a way we need to be and if we need to ramp it up and do anything else, then we will," Roberts after taking infield practice with the team on Sunday morning.

"It's gone a while," said Roberts, who also has been slowed by a stomach virus this spring. "We'd like to get over the hump a little bit."

He said that the decision to see Dr. Lee Riley at Johns Hopkins Hospital was not connected to his infield session and that he still aims to be ready for the opener.

Notes

• Lance Berkman returned to the Houston Astros spring training camp a day after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

The All-Star first baseman was at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., early Sunday morning rehabbing the knee, doing simple squats, leg raises and knee bends after having loose cartilage removed from his left knee.

He is expected to miss two to four weeks, but he hopes to be back in his routine in two weeks.

• The sore right ankle bothering outfielder Rick Ankiel is now sufficiently troubling to the Royals that he isn't expected to play for a week.

"It was better (Saturday)," manager Trey Hillman said, "but it was minimally better. It was better to the point where we felt like there wasn't anything major going on.

"We've got until the end of the month, so I'm probably going to hold Rick out for the next six to seven days to make sure. We've still got plenty of time."

• Daisuke Matsuzaka said he's feeling better but is waiting to make a decision on when he'll have his first throwing session of spring training.

A day after he was scratched from throwing batting practice because of a stiff neck, the Red Sox right-hander played catch for about 10 minutes from 60 feet.

• Stephen Strasburg pitched three scoreless innings and Washington fell to 0-10 in exhibition play in a 7-3 loss to St. Louis.

Strasburg, the top overall pick in last year's draft who signed a record $15.1 million contract, allowed two singles and a walk in his second spring training start. The right-hander threw 29 of 49 pitches for strikes, often battling gusty crosswinds.

• Kerry Wood says he's not worried about missing any more time with the Cleveland Indians because of a sore back.

The veteran closer did not pitch as scheduled Saturday, but said his achy upper right back would not have kept him from pitching in a regular-season game. "It's a little sore around the lat and spring training is not the time to go out and push it," Wood said after coming out of the trainer's room Sunday. Wood is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday and return to the mound Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

• Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos wouldn't deny he's interested in Cuban defector Adeinis Hechavarria, but he declined to comment on a published report that the team might be close to signing the shortstop for $10 million.

• The Mets' Johan Santana pitched four scoreless innings in a 5-1 loss to Florida, allowing three hits.