Ballplayers have long since learned how to compartmentalize spring training, how to focus on what needs to be accomplished on an individual day and not start thinking too far ahead. It's a six-week camp, remember. The last thing you want to catch yourself doing on Feb. 21 is counting down how many days are left. There comes a point late in every spring, though, when it becomes perfectly acceptable to acknowledge the finish line. Once it's truly within reach, everyone knows it and everyone's...

Right-hander Matt Harvey will start the second game of the season for the Orioles. He ended his five-inning outing Sunday against Pittsburgh allowing two runs and none over his last three innings. "Overall, I mean, when you can go five innings, feel pretty strong through all five, I think that's when you know you are ready," he said. Harvey kept getting better during camp. He looks ready. Over his last two games against the Yankees and Pittsburgh, he threw nine innings, allowing three...

A manager has two goals on March 28: Get everybody who still needs work enough work before camp ends, and make sure everybody's healthy when the charter plane takes off in 24 hours. Davey Martinez took solace in both regards following the Nationals' 11-3 win over the Cardinals today in the penultimate game of the Grapefruit League season. His heart did skip a beat momentarily when Josh Harrison (just named the opening night second baseman) was struck by a pitch in the left hand, though...

A roster that holds 36 players in camp and must be pared to 26 apparently won't undergo its final cuts today. Maybe some light trimming, maybe nothing. But manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that there probably won't be 10 moves. The Orioles weren't likely to break camp without a utility player on the roster. Now they're basically carrying two with Pat Valaika and Ramón Urías. Still counts in my book if one of them is starting at second base. A second baseman who appeals to the...

The Orioles have shared important components of their rotation and pitching plans over the past two days. Following official word of John Means' opening day assignment with occupants of the next two spots and how the team will break camp with a 14-man staff and three-man bench. Information comes in drips, but eventually fills the pool. Matt Harvey was named the No. 2 starter yesterday and had his final tune-up this afternoon, joining Jorge López as the only Orioles pitchers to complete five...

In his last spring outing before he pitches the second game of the 2021 regular season Saturday at Boston, right-hander Matt Harvey allowed two runs over five innings. He faced the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. It's the next-to-last game of spring training for the Orioles, who will open the new season Thursday at Boston. Harvey gave up single runs in the first and second innings. Bucs Adam Frazier led off the game with a double, improving his average to...

Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann has done more than just make the Orioles roster as they prepare to break camp. He's emerged as the No. 3 starter. Manager Brandon Hyde announced today that Zimmermann, a graduate of Loyola Blakefield, will close out the series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. John Means and Matt Harvey are slotted ahead of him. Zimmermann has allowed only one hit in nine scoreless innings this spring while coming out of the bullpen. He's walked three batters, struck out 10...

The Nationals intend to open the season with Starlin Castro as their everyday third baseman and Josh Harrison as their primary second baseman, manager Davey Martinez revealed today while discussing the horde of moves announced by the club Saturday that all but set the opening night roster. In deciding to option both Carter Kieboom and Luis García to their alternate training site in Fredericksburg, the Nats are left with nothing but veteran infielders on their projected 26-man roster. That...

We've reached the final stretch at last. Two more days, two more exhibition games before the Nationals break camp and head north for good. And after Saturday's events, there suddenly isn't much left for them to decide before opening day. The swath of transactions they made during the off-day essentially set the 26-man roster. Unless they acquire another infielder or reliever before Thursday, the opening night lineup is almost certainly going include both Starlin Castro and Josh Harrison, the...

With Yolmer Sánchez designated for assignment yesterday, the Orioles are starting Rio Ruiz at second base for this afternoon's game against the Pirates in Sarasota. Ruiz has made two appearances at second base in the majors, no starts, and never played the position in the minors. Anthony Santander is out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his oblique area. Chance Sisco is catching today and Austin Wynns is the designated hitter in the penultimate game of spring...