Jon Lester underwent thyroid removal surgery today in New York and was recovering this afternoon, according to Nationals manager Davey Martinez. Martinez said the club was still waiting to hear from doctors for more details about Lester's procedure, which was scheduled two days ago after the veteran left-hander and cancer survivor reported feeling tired, prompting medical tests that concluded his thyroid gland should be removed. "The only thing that came out of it was that's he's...

Max Scherzer is on the mound tonight for the Nationals, so all is right with the world. At least, as right as is possible these days. The ace right-hander, who sprained his left ankle about two weeks before pitchers and catchers reported to West Palm Beach, Fla., has overcome the injury and built his arm back up to be able to pitch tonight against the Cardinals. In the end, he's actually the first member of the Nationals' projected opening day rotation to start a game this spring. Scherzer is...

Confidence isn't running in short supply for Zac Lowther. He didn't pitch in 2019 because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the minor league season. He hasn't faced hitters above the Double-A level. Every projection for this summer places him at Triple-A Norfolk, where he'll be playing the waiting game between starts. But ask Lowther how close he is to being a major league pitcher and the answer comes firmly and without hesitation. But also not cocky in nature. "I feel like I'm there....

Tyler Nevin gets the start at first base and Brett Cumberland is the designated hitter for today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. Ramón Urias is making back-to-back starts, being a late replacement for Freddy Galvis at shortstop yesterday and starting at second base today. Galvis remains day-to-day with a sore hip. Pat Valaika is the shortstop today. Ryan Mountcastle is in left field and Austin Hays is in center. First baseman Chris Davis remains out of the lineup with a...

The highlight of the Nationals' 8-4 loss to the Mets on Thursday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., was the Grapefruit League debuts of first-round picks Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge. But there were other notable developments to come out of the game, so let's run through some of those this morning ... * Victor Robles is getting on base out of the leadoff spot without getting hits. The young center fielder has started three games so far and has served as the leadoff hitter in all three. And though...

The 2019 Double-A Bowie Baysox had a terrible start to their season. On May 6, they were 7-23, not only the worst record in the Eastern League at that point, but the worst in any league in all of minor league baseball. But a few months later that club would play for the Eastern League championship. They went 69-41 after the terrible start to win their division and make the EL playoffs. A semi-finals playoff win, three games to one over Harrisburg, sent Bowie to the EL Championship Series for...

Brandon Hyde won't overreact to individual production in early exhibition games. Like any manager, he'll place his judgments on hold until later. In the meantime, there are players assured of roster spots on opening day who just want to get ready. Players on the fringes who can get bumped in either direction. Important that they know the difference. The latter group can't be sluggish coming out of the gate, no matter how patient the manager is and how measured his reactions. Left-hander...

There were nerves, for sure. This was, after all, the first time Cade Cavalli and Jackson Rutledge had pitched in a big league spring training game. Not to mention the first time either of the Nationals' top two pitching prospects had faced hitters from another organization in a year. So it perhaps wasn't surprising when Cavalli opened the bottom of the second today in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with a walk and a misplayed comebacker. Nor was it surprising when Rutledge opened the bottom of the...

Freddy Galvis was going to play shortstop today. Ramon Urías was supposed to wait his next turn. Manager Brandon Hyde scratched Galvis from the lineup with a sore hip and inserted Urías, who belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Orioles a 6-3 win over the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles improved their record to 2-2-1. Urías didn't hurt his chances of making the team, though a decision is pending on the length of the bench. Urías is...

For the fourth time in five games, an Orioles starting pitcher allowed runs today. And for the second time this spring, an O's starter was pulled with two outs in the first only to return and pitch the second inning. Lefty John Means did that Tuesday and right-hander Dean Kremer did today as the Orioles faced the Boston Red Sox. Kremer struggled with command during the opening inning before he was lifted. Boston center fielder Jarren Duran doubled to left with one out and Kremer fanned...