BALTIMORE -- Orioles third baseman Timothy Beckham was officially placed on the disabled list on Wednesday with a left groin strain, and the infielder is leaning toward undergoing surgery that would sideline him at least six weeks.
Beckham, who was removed for a pinch-runner during Monday's game, saw a specialist in Philadelphia and is still weighing his options. 
"I know a lot, but I think in fairness to Tim and the medical profession I'm not going to try to be an expert on it yet," manager Buck Showalter said. "I'm looking at, 'OK, if he has this [surgery], how many days before he's playing for the Orioles again?' And I know that answer if he has it. Let's wait and see if he has it, because there's the possibility that he could have it in the morning."
Beckham has no history of groin issues, though this is an injury that first hampered him in Spring Training and could have been a contributing factor for his slow start. In 23 games, he hit .179/.247/.262.
"We're kind of dealing now with, 'Here's what it is, here's what one of the best in the world is telling us.' Obviously, it's Tim's decision about where he wants to go," Showalter said. "I know initially he really wanted to see if he could get back and [play] through it. I think after talking to the doctor and showing the MRI and the looks at it, I've got a pretty good feeling which way he's going to proceed. And that's going to be his decision."
Utility man Jace Peterson, who was claimed on waivers on from the Yankees on Tuesday, took Beckham's roster spot and will assume the bulk of the playing time at second base with Jonathan Schoop (oblique) on the disabled list.
Peterson, who has played in 386 games over five seasons in the Majors with the Padres, Braves and Yankees, made an immediate impact in his Orioles debut, hitting a two-run double in the second inning of Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Rays. Peterson, 27, appeared in three games with the Yankees and went 3-for-10 before being designated.
"I think for right now, I'll probably be all over the place. Obviously with the guys they have injured, tonight I'm playing second," Peterson said before Wednesday's game against the Rays. "I'm just kind of going to get my work everywhere and be ready to go whenever my number is called. … I feel good. I'm excited to get on the field and kind of get to play with some of these guys and try to get some wins."