"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."