The rotation names and order are done. Now, we find out how the Orioles plan on monitoring their pitchers' innings with the season stretching back to 162 games. Dean Kremer goes to the end of the line as the youngest member at 25, providing a peek into the club's strategy. Bruce Zimmermann is a year older and tabbed as the No. 3 starter. He took the mound first for today's exhibition finale against the Rays and surrendered three home runs over 4 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Rays at Ed...

The Orioles' five-man rotation is set and announced. Manager Brandon Hyde said today that Jorge López will start the fourth game of the season on April 5 against the Yankees in the Bronx, with Dean Kremer following him on April 6. The group turns over with opening day starter John Means closing out the series and Matt Harvey starting the home opener on April 8 against the Red Sox. López came into camp out of minor league options and perhaps viewed as more likely to work in long relief,...

Though the Nationals don't doubt Juan Soto and Starlin Castro will be ready to play in Thursday night's season opener in Washington, both players will have to do so without having appeared in the final three games of the exhibition season in Florida. Neither Soto nor Castro is in the lineup for today's Grapefruit League finale against the Astros, but each took five at-bats during a simulated game outside The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches this morning and experienced no issues with the minor...

And so we have arrived at the final day of spring training. Six weeks just flew by, right? The Nationals have one last exhibition to play today against the Astros, one final battle for Palm Beach, if you will. At this stage of the process, it's a whole lot of regulars playing, and both teams have prominent starters on the mound: Stephen Strasburg and Jake Odorizzi. Strasburg has looked perfectly fine all spring, showing no ill effects of his carpal tunnel syndrome nor the ruptured calf tendon...

The Orioles have reached the final game on the exhibition schedule this afternoon. Seven innings against the Rays in Sarasota and that's it. They've compiled a 10-16-1 record that means nothing. What's important is left-hander Bruce Zimmermann making it through today's start healthy and ready to pitch Sunday afternoon in Boston. He's allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters this spring in nine innings. What's important is Anthony Santander one day returning to the lineup after now...

Veteran pitcher Félix Hernández has opted out of his contract with the Orioles, a source confirmed this morning. Hernández goes back into free agency after agreeing to a minor league deal with the Orioles that paid $1 million if he made the club. Elbow soreness forced Hernández out of his last start after the first inning of a March 16 game in Port Charlotte. He retired the side in order, but manager Brandon Hyde noticed bad body language on the mound that hinted at an...

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...