BALTIMORE – Brian Roberts was activated from the disabled list Sunday by the Baltimore Orioles, who hope the frequently injured second baseman can contribute to the team’s bid to reach the playoffs for a second straight season.

The 35-year-old Roberts had been on the DL since April 5 with a strained right hamstring.

The two-time All-Star returned for the conclusion of a three-game series against the AL East-rival New York Yankees.

Roberts batted ninth as Baltimore’s designated hitter.

Roberts has spent more time rehabilitating injuries than playing baseball over the past several years, but he never let it get him down.

“I believe God has a purpose for everything that I’ve been through,” he said.

In another move, Baltimore obtained outfielder Eric Thames from Seattle for minor league infielder Ty Kelly. Thames is on the DL with a broken hand.

DODGERS: Josh Beckett realizes he has a long road ahead to get back to the mound for Los Angeles.

A day after the club announced the three-time All-Star right-hander will have season-ending surgery to treat the thoracic outlet syndrome in his neck, he talked about what lies ahead once the surgery is performed in about 1 1/2 weeks in Dallas.

“This surgery has a good track record, and I think it’s going to put me in a better position than I was,” he said.

Beckett was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts. He is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

ANGELS: Outfielder Peter Bourjos has a broken right wrist, an injury sustained when he was hit by a pitch from Houston’s Jordan Lyles on Saturday, and will likely go on the 15-day DL.

Earlier this season, Bourjos missed 38 games with a left hamstring strain.

RANGERS: Designated hitter Lance Berkman was out of the lineup for the third straight game Sunday because of his sore, surgically repaired right knee, which he said he aggravated slipping down the steps while exiting the team plane Thursday.

ASTROS: First baseman/DH Carlos Pena will miss the next two games due to the drowning death of his nephew in the Dominican Republic.

The team expects him back for Tuesday night’s game against Tampa Bay.

Also Sunday, the Astros placed outfielder Justin Maxwell on the seven-day disabled list because of concussion-related symptoms.

INDIANS: Outfielder Michael Bourn was placed on the three-day paternity list, is in Houston with his wife and expected back in the lineup on Wednesday.

CUBS: Outfielder Ryan Sweeney is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking a rib on his left side crashing into an outfield wall.