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 yesterday 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 today was not connected to his infield session and that he still aims to be ready for the Orioles' opener at Tampa Bay on April 6.

"I feel fine doing that sort of stuff," he said. "I still have a little bit of discomfort in certain areas and in certain ways, so those are the kinds of things that we're just going to check and make sure that we don't need to try to do anything different treatment wise."

Roberts expects to return to Sarasota tonight or tomorrow morning.

Roberts led the American League in doubles last season with 56.

ASTROS

BERKMAN RETURNS

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

The All-Star first baseman was at Osceola County Stadium early yesterday morning rehabbing after having loose cartilage debris removed from his left knee.

He is expected to miss two to four weeks.

ELSEWHERE

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

The veteran closer says missing an outing Saturday was just precautionary. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today and return Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

Royals: Kansas City Royals outfielder Rick Ankiel will miss at least a week of spring training with a right ankle injury.

Manager Trey Hillman said yesterday he would hold Ankiel out for another six to seven games with the sore right ankle.

Red Sox: Outfield prospect Ryan Westmoreland, 19, will have surgery tomorrow for a cavernous malformation in his brain, the team announced.

Westmoreland was recognized as the best prospect in the Red Sox system by Baseball America this offseason. Cavernous malformations are groups of abnormal blood vessels.