As the loudest sounds in Orioles camp today came from the maneuvering of veteran pitchers, like furniture dragged across wood floors, young left-hander Keegan Akin had to tune it out and do his job. A smart approach, but hard to execute. Akin made the start tonight and threw 32 pitches in a two-run top of the first inning against the Pirates in Sarasota. He was charged with six runs and eight hits in only 2 1/3, walking two batters and striking out three, and headed to the dugout with head...

The rotation guessing game can't be played without the constant moving of pieces. The Orioles appear to be lining up Dean Kremer behind opening day starter John Means. They appear to want Matt Harvey to pitch the third game, though it hasn't been stated. He could go fourth. My logic came from the idea that the team would want to separate rookies Kremer and Keegan Akin, but the latter has to earn the job and he struggled last night. Would the Orioles stick Bruce Zimmermann in the fifth spot...

With the games dwindling and the rotation competition still apparently very much open, it was not a good time for a rough outing on the mound. But 25-year-old Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin had one tonight. He could not make it through the third inning as the Orioles hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Making his first appearance in a spring game since March 15 - he certainly had pitched on the back fields on other days - Akin allowed six runs and eight hits over 2...

We don't know what the stats say about a couple of Bruce Zimmermann outings in B games and/or on the back fields, but we do know his stats in three spring training games have been close to perfect. Hard to top a zero ERA over nine innings. The Baltimore native, 2013 Loyola High School grad and former player at Towson University got his feet wet with two games in the majors late last year. He gave up five runs in three innings in a start against Tampa Bay and allowed one run over four innings...

Starlin Castro remains day-to-day during the final week of spring training after an MRI of the veteran infielder revealed a "very mild" hamstring strain, according to Nationals manager Davey Martinez. Castro, who hurt himself running the bases Tuesday against the Cardinals, doesn't appear to be seriously injured. But at this late stage of the spring, each day lost carries more significance. The Nationals, who face the Marlins tonight, have four Grapefruit League games remaining in Florida...

Matt Harvey isn't too old to appreciate a good joke. Especially the kind delivered at his expense and the punchline bringing smiles all around the room. No one was happier than Harvey, who learned with a dash of humor that the Orioles selected his contract and put him on their 40-man roster for opening day. Manager Brandon Hyde and executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias decided to have a little fun with it. "I come in pretty much every day and say 'hi' to everyone, been pretty...

Anybody want to get weird on March 25? Well, let's get weird! The Nationals tonight are starting Luis Avilán., a reliever. He will serve as an "opener," pitching the bottom of the first against the Marlins for sure and possibly taking the mound for the bottom of the second as well. He's also batting eighth, and Davey Martinez says if that spot in the lineup comes up before Avilán is done pitching, he'll indeed bat for himself. Erick Fedde, originally named tonight's starter, will...

Ryan Mountcastle has returned to the Orioles' lineup tonight after being scratched yesterday. Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter against the Pirates in Sarasota. Maikel Franco is the cleanup hitter. Trey Mancini is starting again at first base. Cedric Mullins is leading off and playing center field, with Austin Hays in right. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said wants to see better fastball command from Dean Kremer and Keegan Akin. Kremer started last night. Akin gets his chance...

The Orioles have turned a reclamation project into one of their starters to begin the 2021 season. Veteran right-hander Matt Harvey's contract was selected this morning and he's on the 40-man roster and in the rotation. Harvey, who turns 32 on Saturday, signed a minor league deal in February that included an opt-out clause this week. He could have returned to the free-agent market, but he's headed north with the team and might start the season's third game in Boston. John Means gets the...

The heart of the Nationals lineup has put up some huge numbers this spring. But here's the strange thing about that: Juan Soto has had nothing to do with it. While Josh Bell, Ryan Zimmerman and Kyle Schwarber tear up the Grapefruit League with a combined 10 doubles, 14 homers and 31 RBIs, Soto has produced next-to-nothing this month. The best hitter on the team, possibly the best hitter in baseball, is batting .182 (6-for-33) with zero extra-base hits and zero RBIs. Spring training stats, of...