The Nationals passed their first test of the exhibition season, successfully hosting a game against the Phillies. Now they face their next important test: a road game. It's not really a road trip, just a short bus ride up to Camden Yards and back. No overnight stay in a hotel. No flights. But there are different protocols and considerations they must follow for tonight's game against the Orioles, and at the end of the night, they'll hopefully have a better idea what they're in for once they...

Anthony Santander is in the Orioles' exhibition lineup tonight against the Nationals, making the start in right field after reporting to camp last week. Santander was late after testing positive for COVID-19, but the Orioles are optimistic that he can get ready for Friday night's opener in Boston. DJ Stewart is leading off and Cedric Mullins, who homered last night in Philadelphia, is in center field and batting ninth. Austin Hays is out of the lineup after being hit on the left knee last...

Projected finish: Nationals, Braves, Phillies, Mets, Marlins The Braves are taking aim at winning their third consecutive National League East title. And if they make it to October, the goal is to redirect their losing postseason history. Since 2002, the Braves have been to the postseason nine times without advancing beyond their first series or game. They've lost in one wild card game and eight NL Division Series. In a sense, they are reliving their 1990s, when the Braves won 14 consecutive...

Projected finish: Rays, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Red Sox. The Yankees and Rays couldn't be more distant financially or historically. The Yankees' 2020 season will be considered a bust if they don't win their franchise's 28th World Series come October. The Rays have been to the World Series once, losing to Philadelphia in 2008. Just getting there again would be a dream. The Rays play in a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., that is usually more empty than full, even with a winning...

They've played only one exhibition game, but the Nationals have no choice but to start thinking seriously about finalizing their opening night roster, which must be submitted 72 hours from now. In some ways, this is a trickier proposition than it usually is, given the lack of time and lack of performance to make such player judgments. And yet in some ways it's also a simpler task than usual, because they're allowed to keep 30 players on the active roster for the season's first two...

The Orioles could have some big decisions to make later today. They'll check on All-Star left-hander John Means and his availability to make the opening day start Friday night at Boston. Means was scratched from last night's start due to arm fatigue and a case of dead arm. But pitching in his place at Philadelphia, 26-year-old right-hander Thomas Eshelman, he of the 6.50 ERA last year, threw another solid outing. Between four games in the first spring training and three in the current summer...

One of the more startling developments of summer training camp beyond John Means' dead-arm period is the potential crashing of the opening day roster projection party. Who invited César Valdez and Dilson Herrera? It feels like they carpooled and brought their own keg. The odds of Valdez's making the trip to Boston for Friday night's opener were placed at a "hard no" back in March, if such a thing actually exists, as he worked out at the minor league complex in Twin Lakes Park. His five...

Stevie Wilkerson's bid to break summer camp with the Orioles as one of their super-utility players was hurt tonight in Philadelphia. Wilkerson is going to see a hand specialist to determine the cause of the swelling in his left ring finger. He made a diving catch in the bottom of the second inning to rob the Phillies' Jean Segura and came out of the game. Manager Brandon Hyde provided the update on his Zoom conference call with the media following a 5-1 win at Citizens Bank Park. Wilkerson is...

Thomas Eshelman might be making a late push for a rotation spot. Or if John Means can't make his first start, that could make room for right-hander Eshelman, who made a case for himself tonight in Philadelphia. Eshelman threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four singles, as the Orioles beat the Phillies 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park. It is the first of three exhibitions for the Orioles ahead of their July 24 opener at Fenway Park in Boston. Eshelman actually made the last exhibition game start...

The Orioles remain uncertain about John Means' status for opening day, though there's been improvement in the condition of his left arm. Manager Brandon Hyde said the club remains in day-to-day mode with Means. "He felt a lot better today," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call with the media. "Has done a lot of treatment today. We haven't made a decision on that yet, but obviously we need to do that here in the next couple days." The Orioles won't use a starter on short rest if...