Catcher Matt Wieters and outfielder Felix Pie likely will not play for the remainder of the series in Texas, which ends Sunday, but both could re-join the lineup when the Orioles resume play Friday , interim manager Juan Samuel said.
Wieters sat out the Texas opener on Thursday with tightness in his right hamstring, but played Friday. He left in the fifth after straining the hamstring while rounding second base. He limped off the field and, at the time, a DL stint looked fairly certain.
"When I did it, I thought that might be a possibility," Wieters said Saturday afternoon. "But it actually felt a lot better, both yesterday after the game and today, than I thought it was going to. Hopefully we can get it to improve with treatment and we won't have to worry about (going to the DL). And hopefully once we get back from the break we'll be good to go."
That decision will be made after Thursday's workout at Camden Yards. Wieters had previously planned to stay in Baltimore during the break, so the injury doesn't alter his plans.
"We didn't feel at this point that it was a DL situation. It's not as bad as it appeared," interim manager Juan Samuel said. "We will see how he feels at that point. If he still needs some time, then we will have to make a decision and get some help here."
Backup Craig Tatum will handle starting catching duties Saturday and possibly Sunday, Samuel said. If Saturday night's game is a long one, Jake Fox could catch Sunday.
Pie, who left the game in the sixth, said his strained left quad was fine before Saturday's game, and that he could play each of the two days if needed.
"I am ready to play, ready to go, but they want to give me a day off, so I will take it easy," Pie said. "I can run. I don't feel it at all."
Samuel is taking no chances with Pie, who returned Tuesday from the disabled list, where he had been since April 16 with a torn muscle in his back.
"If I can, I am going to keep him out from Sunday," Samuel said. "With four days off, I don't think one day is going to hurt him. If we need to get him another day off, that's what we will do."
Corey Patterson started in left field in place of Pie on Saturday with Ty Wigginton as the designated hitter and Jake Fox at first base.