Patrick Corbin has made three starts this spring. And he has faced the Marlins three times this spring. That's not what anyone would consider an ideal scenario, but there's not much the Nationals can do about it in this modified Grapefruit League schedule that includes only four opponents who train close to West Palm Beach, Fla. Corbin's first start (two innings, one run allowed on March 6) went perfectly fine. His second (three scoreless innings on March 11) went much better. His third...

Make opening day roster plans and duck the wrenches thrown at them. The Orioles intended to carry first baseman Chris Davis, but he hasn't played since Feb. 28 due to a lower back injury. The result is likely a trip to the injured list, whether 10 or 60 days. Hunter Harvey was a candidate to serve as closer, or at least a high-leverage reliever, but he's on the 60-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Félix Hernández was signed to a minor league deal and penciled into the...

When bullpen lefty Paul Fry struggled on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies, it was a rare outing this spring for an Orioles reliever. Not in the results, but in the fact Fry pitched 1 2/3 innings. Most of the relief outings this year by pitchers who are not being stretched out have been one inning. Fernando Abad has four outings of an inning or less each, Shawn Armstrong has two of those among three games. Eric Hanhold, whose good spring got wrecked yesterday, has thrown five outings of...

Veteran starter Félix Hernández left today's start against the Rays with discomfort in his right elbow. He's undergoing an examination and the Orioles should have more information in the morning. Hernández retired the side in order with two strikeouts, but manager Brandon Hyde sensed that there was an issue. "I thought the velo was the same," Hyde said following a 7-1 seven-inning loss in Port Charlotte. "He was getting outs, he had a good slider. I just thought the body language...

Jon Lester is ready to make his Nationals debut. And that could help give Stephen Strasburg a couple extra days to let his strained calf heal without disrupting the team's rotation plans to begin the season. Lester has cleared all hurdles since rejoining camp following March 5 surgery to remove one of his parathyroid glands and is slated to start Thursday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla., according to manager Davey Martinez. It'll be the left-hander's long-awaited Nationals debut...

The Nationals have a date this evening with the Marlins, and Patrick Corbin is once again the main attraction. Corbin, who tossed three scoreless innings against this same club in Jupiter, Fla., five days ago, now faces Miami at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, where he'll look to build up his pitch count to about 60 and attempt to complete four innings for the first time this spring. The Nationals have all regulars playing behind Corbin in the field tonight, with a few differences in the...

The Orioles made the signing of third baseman Maikel Franco official today. He passed his physical and signed a one-year deal for the 2021 season. The move could mean the Orioles have a mostly set infield for many games in the coming season with Trey Mancini at first, Yolmer Sánchez at second, Freddy Galvis at short and Franco at third. It would a clean slate in the Baltimore infield, as none of those four played a game for the team in 2020. MLB Network reported the deal is for $800,000,...

Third baseman Maikel Franco entered the Orioles organization today about the same time that veteran pitcher Félix Hernández made a mysterious exit from his start against the Rays. Franco signed a one-year contract that pays $800,000, with a possible $200,000 in incentives, as first reported by MLB Network's Jon Heyman and confirmed by a source. Franco receives a bonus if he's traded, the same perk given to shortstop Freddy Galvis in January. Both sides agreed that Franco's option can...

The Orioles today announced that they have signed infielder Maikel Franco to a one-year contract for the 2021 season. Franco, 28, appeared in all 60 games for the Kansas City Royals during the 2020 season, making 51 starts at third base, eight starts as the designated hitter, and one start at first base. He batted .278/.321/.457 (62-for-223) with 16 doubles, eight home runs, 23 runs scored, and 38 RBI. His 16 doubles, 24 extra-base hits, and 38 RBI led the Royals, and his 62 hits were the...

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is withholding Richie Martin from his first game until after Thursday's off-day. Hyde is being cautious with Martin, who had the hamate bone removed from his left hand in January. Martin hit yesterday on a back field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "Wrist is feeling pretty good," Hyde said today on his Zoom call. "We're pushing him back a couple days. ... He's going to continue to take at-bats on the back field here. "It's just coming off a hamate and your...