Roberts Is Hamstrung by Hamstring

Center fielder Dave Roberts, recovering slower than hoped from a strained right hamstring, said Tuesday he’s not sure when he will return.

“I still feel it in my hamstring,” he said. “It’s obviously taking a little longer that I thought.”

He has sat out four consecutive games after suffering the injury last Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The productive leadoff batter, who relies on speed, runs in the outfield before games to test his hamstring.

The results have not been good.

“It’s right around 85% now, something like that, but that’s in a controlled environment,” Roberts said. “For me to go out there and play, I don’t want to be reluctant in stealing bases or trying to bunt or whatever.

“For me to be in a game, I’ve got to be 100%, because it’s a whole different speed. I don’t want to rush it and wind up being out a lot longer.”

Roberts still hopes to return before the end of the seven-game homestand.

“Maybe a couple of more games is all I need, but I really don’t think it’s a [disabled-list] situation,” he said. “It’s getting better, just not that fast.”

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All-Star right fielder Shawn Green is confident he and first baseman Fred McGriff will produce as management envisioned.

“Fred and myself are traditionally slow starters, and we’re usually especially slow the first month of the season,” said Green, who went one for five in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory.

“At the same time, I understand that if I do get into a really good grove, like I did a couple times last year, then we have a pretty good chance of winning a lot of games during that span. That’s the way it happened the last couple of years, but there are more guys capable of putting some quick runs on the board this year.”

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Batting instructor Jack Clark, still recovering from a March 30 motorcycle accident, declined to discuss his situation with reporters a day after missing a game following a follow-up examination. Clark, who suffered a concussion in the three-vehicle accident, has not received medical clearance to travel with the club.

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Left fielder Brian Jordan, weakened by flu-like symptoms, was instructed to remain at home Tuesday, Manager Jim Tracy said.