The Brian Roberts injury saga continues.
Roberts, who has played just four games this season because of a herniated disk, had an epidural injection in his back Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., Orioles interim manager Juan Samuel said.
It's the third such shot he's had since spring training began.
After the last two, Roberts rested for a couple weeks before beginning light exercises. Roberts didn't return a phone call Friday, but it's likely that timetable will continue. Samuel said Roberts will be re-evaluated Tuesday in Florida.
"They will do some follow-ups on Tuesday and I guess they are going to decide from there what the next move is going to be," Samuel said.
Roberts, during his regular call-in with The Scott Garceau Show on 105.7, on Thursday, said he hoped to play in games toward the end of the season — not an encouraging statement for a team that desperately needs its leadoff hitter and sparkplug.
"That doesn't sound good — the end of the year," Samuel said laughing. "But we just want him to get better. If the doctors feel that's what needs to be done, we have our hands full up here. We have a job to do and try to get the best out of these guys that we have here. If that's the decision that's going to be made, that's going to be up to the doctor."
Roberts was eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list Wednesday.
Wedge interviews
As part of their managerial search, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail interviewed former Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge on Wednesday, an industry source said Friday.
Former New York Mets manager and current ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine interviewed in Baltimore on Friday, but declined comment.
These are the only two interviews conducted by MacPhail so far, a source said.
Buck Showalter, another high-profile former manager who has been rumored to be a candidate, has not been contacted by the Orioles.
MacPhail is not discussing specifics of his managerial search. When contacted by phone Friday morning, Wedge declined comment.
Wedge, 42, took the Indians job in 2003 at the age of 35, and spent seven seasons in Cleveland, compiling a 561-573 record (.495 winning percentage). He was fired last year after the Indians lost 97 games.
In 2007, Wedge won the American League Manager of the Year award by guiding the Indians to 96 wins, an AL Central title and a Game 7 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.
A former third-round draft pick and big league catcher, he spent parts of four seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.
The Orioles' managerial slot opened June 3, when MacPhail fired Dave Trembley after nearly three years on the job. Samuel is 2-4 as the team's interim manager since taking over June 4.
Choosing a closer
With David Hernandez's continued solid performance as an emergency closer, Samuel said that he might have some options when Alfredo Simon returns from the disabled list. Once considered only as a starter, Hernandez earned his first save in Thursday night's 4-3 win over the New York Yankees.
"He showed last night some poise. He went right after those hitters," Samuel said of Hernandez's one-inning stint that helped preserve Jake Arrietta's first major league victory. "Hopefully if we're in that same situation [Friday], he'll be the guy."
Samuel said that once Simon returns, possibly as soon as next week's road trip to San Francisco and San Diego, the 29-year-old right-hander would move back into the closer role with Hernandez as the backup. Simon will throw a simulated game Sunday in Sarasota, Fla.
"Whether we use a guy for two nights on the road and if he cannot go the next day, you have the option of the other guy. That's a blessing for us," Samuel said.
Samuel seemed to hedge on the possibility of that becoming a permanent role for Hernandez, a 25-year-old right-hander who was considered a fourth or fifth starter.
"It's not an easy role. We're talking about a very young guy, too," Samuel said.
Asked after Thursday's game if he enjoyed the closer role, Hernandez said, "I do now."
Around the horn
Arrieta became the third Orioles pitcher to earn a victory over the Yankees in his major league debut, joining Koji Uehara last season and Charlie Beamon in 1956. … Michael Gonzalez (left shoulder strain) threw seven pitches in one extended spring training inning and his velocity had improved to 87 mph from 85 mph earlier this month. Samuel said the team is considering summoning Gonzalez from Florida to watch him in person before deciding when to send him out on a minor league rehab assignment. … The Orioles have signed 17 draft picks, including 13th-round pick Jeremy Nowak, 14th-round selection Michael Mosby and 15th-round choice Joseph Oliveira. Also among the signees was 38th-round pick Jeremy Shelby, the son of first base coach John Shelby. ... Former Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera received another chance to make a comeback to the major leagues when the Los Angeles Angels signed him Thursday. The Angels added Cabrera, 29, to the roster of the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, where he is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.