SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Evan Phillips didn't allow a run this spring in 9 2/3 innings. He still didn't make the opening day roster. Phillips has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, reducing the camp roster to 34 players. Pitcher Gregory Infante is excluded on my list because he never reported due to illness. Two more scoreless innings last night against the Twins couldn't save Phillips, though it's always possible that the Orioles bring him back to replace an injured player. For...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - We kind of glossed over it amid the flurry of Nationals roster and lineup news following yesterday's 4-4 tie with the Cardinals, but there was a ballgame and things did happen during the game that warrant mention. Especially Stephen Strasburg. Making his final tune-up before the regular season, Strasburg put forth a performance similar to Max Scherzer's impressive start the previous night. Strasburg allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. But...

SARASOTA, Fla. - He has just a few months of minor league experience under his belt, but his first pro experience in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League went well. So now young lefty Drew Rom awaits the next step. Drafted in round four last June out of a high school in Fort Thomas, Ky., the 19-year-old Rom reported to the GCL after he signed. He went 0-2 with a 1.76 ERA over 10 games. In 30 2/3 innings, he allowed just 20 hits with six walks and 28 strikeouts. He had an average against of .183...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the penultimate day of spring training, with the Orioles breaking camp following Monday afternoon's game against the Mets at Ed Smith Stadium. Boxes already have been loaded on the truck for delivery at Camden Yards. Player cars already have been removed from the premises via carrier trailers. (Carrier pigeons would have taken too long, PETA would have objected and it just wasn't worth the aggravation.) The Orioles were tweaked again in Florida with today's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Alex Cobb appears to have sustained a mild groin strain tonight and the club might get a clearer read on the severity of the injury by Sunday. Whether Cobb can make his opening day start won't be known until later. Cobb retired leadoff hitter Max Kepler on a ground ball to first baseman Chris Davis, who flipped the ball to the veteran starter for the out. Cobb showed no signs of discomfort while inducing a soft line drive from Ehire Adrianza...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb's final start before opening day lasted only one inning. Cobb retired the Twins in order tonight on 13 pitches, but Jimmy Yacabonis replaced him unexpectedly to begin the second inning. The team announced that Cobb exited with right groin soreness. Head athletic trainer Brian Ebel escorted Cobb to the clubhouse as Yacabonis trotted onto the field. A ground ball, liner and popup completed Cobb's work. He threw nine strikes - and a scare into the Orioles. Cobb is...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Adam Eaton indeed will lead off for the Nationals to begin the season, with Trea Turner right behind him. And Victor Robles will bring up the rear as the No. 9 hitter, manager Davey Martinez revealed late this afternoon. Those decisions, though telegraphed at various points of spring training, are now concrete after Martinez pored through stats provided by the Nationals' analytics team and concluded this is his best lineup alignment. "After running all the numbers and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde isn't able to provide much clarity to the catching situation following the Pedro Severino waiver claim earlier this afternoon. Chance Sisco is starting tonight and the club is discussing whether he'd benefit from another stint at Triple-A Norfolk. Jesús Sucre still hasn't been told whether he's made the club. And it's possible that the Orioles attempt to pass Severino through waivers after the Nationals failed, a move former executive Dan...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals pared their roster down to 30 following today's 4-4 exhibition tie against the Cardinals, leaving only a handful of candidates still competing for the final spots in their opening day bullpen and bench. Right-hander Joe Ross was optioned to Triple-A Fresno, where he'll be stretched out as a starter. Fellow starter Erick Fedde and catcher Spencer Kieboom also were optioned, though they will open the season at Double-A Harrisburg because the organization...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles consummated a minor league trade this afternoon, obtaining right-hander Tyler Herb from the Giants for outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. Herb made 13 starts last summer at Triple-A Sacramento and went 2-8 with a 5.35 ERA and 1.599 WHIP in 70 2/3 innings. The Harrisburg, Pa., native turns 27 in April. The Mariners drafted Herb in the 29th round in 2014 out of Coastal Carolina University. He's 30-34 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.439 WHIP in five minor league seasons. The Giants...