WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Andrew Stevenson has had a base hit in his last four Nationals spring training games. It comes at a good time for the former LSU star, who is now in play for the fourth outfield spot again come opening day with the injury to Michael A. Taylor. Stevenson has now had a base hit in five of his last seven appearances. His double at the end of Saturday's game against the Cardinals wrapped around to a single and run scored to begin Sunday's game against the Mets. "He could...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Austin Wynns provides the latest example of how an oblique injury isn't a day-to-day situation. Players can't rush back from them. Can't test them early without risking a setback. Wynns seems confident that he'll return this week, but he still has to take live batting practice. He's been hitting in the cage, which is where the injury happened. Life as a catcher certainly has its risks, though most of them occur behind the plate. Andrew Susac took a beating...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Wright's late push to be included in the Orioles rotation needs more muscle. Wright finished strong today by retiring the split-squad Yankees in order in the fifth inning, but he served up three home runs and the Orioles trail 4-1 in the seventh at Ed Smith Stadium. Luke Voit hit a two-run homer to left-center field with the count full in the first inning and flied to the right field fence in the fifth. Miguel Andújar and Zack Zehner led off the third and fourth,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Left-hander Seth Romero is on schedule and progressing well as he recovers from Tommy John surgery seven months ago, hoping to write a positive next chapter after a few off-the-field missteps. "It's going really good," Romero said. "They have a bunch of guys who have been through the same process, so I'm just doing what they tell me. So far, so good. "The rehab guys, we work out six days a week and we throw three days out of the week. We do shoulder care every day....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brandon Hyde called them into his office one at a time. Eight players sent out of major league camp in the latest round of roster cuts. Always tough conversations for veteran and first-year managers. Outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander, pitchers Yefry Ramirez, Cody Carroll and Branden Kline, and infielder Stevie Wilkerson were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk this morning. Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa and infielder Christopher Bostick were reassigned to minor league camp. "All...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Davey Martinez hasn't decided yet who his starting catcher will be on opening day. The manager has said all spring he intends to get both Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki regular playing time and have them split the job, and the opening day assignment is no different. Both catchers have worked with Max Scherzer over the last month. And both will catch the three-time Cy Young Award winner as the season plays out. It's just a question of who's behind the plate for the first...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The message delivered by the Orioles this spring regarding the importance of camp competitions and fighting for available jobs clashed this morning with a round of roster cuts that included outfielders Austin Hays and Anthony Santander and reliever Cody Carroll. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias explained the decisions and more while meeting with the media for about 10 minutes inside the home dugout at Ed Smith Stadium. "I don't think competition in the...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals managed to avoid the rain yesterday and play their full exhibition game against the Cardinals. They'll try to do the same today against the Mets, with the forecast again iffy. Stephen Strasburg makes his fourth start of the spring. He's been very good to date: two runs allowed in 10 2/3 innings, with 13 strikeouts. He'll face a Mets lineup that includes Robinson Canó and Michael Conforto. Most of the Nationals' regulars, who started each of the last...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin Hays slashed .351/.385/.892 in 12 exhibition games this spring. His 13 hits included three doubles, a triple and five home runs. He scored 10 runs and drove in 13. He proved that his surgically repaired ankle was healed and wouldn't restrict him on the bases or in the field, where he played a superb center and moved to both corners. Hays did everything in camp except win a roster spot. The Orioles have optioned Hays, outfielder Anthony Santander, pitchers Yefry Ramirez,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making roster cuts this morning and the group includes outfielder Austin Hays, one of the standouts in camp. Also leaving the complex are pitchers Branden Kline and Cody Carroll and infielders Stevie Wilkerson and Christopher Bostick. Pitcher Gabriel Ynoa was packing his equipment bag, so I'm assuming that he's been reassigned. More on this later. Cedric Mullins is in center field today as the Orioles face the Yankees in Sarasota on MASN. Mark Trumbo is the...