Right fielder Adam Eaton has watched Victor Robles get his reps in center field this spring and believes the 21-year-old is ready to take the next step as the season commences Thursday. The one thing Eaton has appreciated the most about Robles is that the youngster is not afraid to learn from his miscues in the outfield. Eaton likes the upside ability Robles has. And that ability will shine through once Robles gets dozens of big league games under his belt, the veteran believes. Robles has made...

The offseason for the National League East was a steady stream of reinforcements, making it the most competitive division of Major League Baseball's six. Four teams have a chance to win the crown. The biggest offseason splash was the Phillies' trade for catcher J.T. Realmuto. But that was only until halfway through spring training, when they signed free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper. So, how will the Nationals be without Harper, 26, the 2015 NL MVP? And, do the Phillies have enough in their...

The Nats got on the board in the bottom of the first in their spring training finale at Nats Park. Trea Turner's one-out infield single started the rally against Yankees southpaw Stephen Tarpley With two away, Anthony Rendon blasted a 2-1 offering over the left field wall. Giancarlo Stanton barely moved. Rendon's fifth of the spring made it 2-0 Nats. Aníbal Sánchez allowed a double to Brett Gardner to lead off the game but recorded two strikeouts in the first to get out unscathed. After...

After going 11-3 in the postseason en route to winning the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox are taking aim at becoming the first repeat World Series winner since the Yankees won their third consecutive in 2000. History says the Red Sox have an uphill climb. Since 2000, only the 2001 Yankees and 2009 Phillies returned to the World Series after winning it the previous season. Nine of the World Series champions didn't make the postseason. The Yankees and Red Sox are the favorites in the American...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dwight Smith Jr. singled today in the fifth inning, came out of the game for a pinch-runner and received a nice ovation. He left on a low note by his standards. Smith hit two more home runs today to give him five in 12 games. Both balls cleared the fence in center field, an impressive display of power from a player who's hit two homers in 104 plate appearances in the majors and had six last summer in Triple-A. "I've just been working on it," said Smith, who hugged his...

With today's crowd of 7,357 for this season's Spring Training finale at Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles have drawn a total of 103,167 fans for 16 home games in Sarasota. It is the ninth time in 10 seasons that the Orioles have welcomed more than 100,000 fans at Ed Smith Stadium. Since moving Major League operations to Sarasota, 1,091,516 fans have enjoyed Orioles Spring Training baseball at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles welcomed their One Millionth Fan into Ed Smith Stadium on February 26....

After almost six weeks in Florida, the Nationals unpacked at the locker stalls in their home park on Monday, surrounded by the familiar and eager to move a day closer to games that count. "I said this about seven days ago: I hit the wall," manager Davey Martinez said before Monday's exhibition game against the Yankees. "OK, spring training should be done, let's go. I could see it in the players' faces. They'd had enough. Granted, we've still got four more days until the season starts,...

Veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been through several camps with the Nationals over the years. Starting in spring training 2006 (played in 20 games late in 2005), Zimmerman has been to 14 big league camps with just one team. He has been healthy through some, rehabilitating in others. He has come off of 100-loss seasons and returned after four playoff appearances. He has seen well stocked teams and clubs that had holes to fill, even before the season even began. Before this campaign,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's news of the likely placement of three Orioles on the injured list finally brings the opening day roster into clear focus unless a late waiver claim or trade muddies the picture again. Splatters happen. Jesús Sucre should be told later that he's on the club, making his opt-out date insignificant and finalizing the composition of the catching tandem. Sucre, signed to a minor league deal on Feb. 1 with a guarantee of $850,000 if he made the team, will be paired with...

The Nationals take on the New York Yankees in their final tune-up exhibition before the season begins Thursday at Nats Park against the New York Mets. Weather permitting, right-hander Aníbal Sánchez (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Nationals against Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. (0-1, 3.29). It is all regulars in the lineup except for Kurt Suzuki starting instead of Yan Gomes at catcher. Matt Adams will be the designated hitter. Manager Davey Martinez had said during spring...