WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - As spring training competitions go, the center field battle between veteran Michael A. Taylor and top prospect Victor Robles in Nationals camp is a doozy. And with a little more than two weeks left in camp, there's no clear-cut leader. If all things were equal, the Nationals would seem to prefer that Robles, 21, seize the opportunity. If not for a gruesome elbow injury sustained making a diving play for Triple-A Syracuse in April, he might have been the one who got the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - With so much attention given to Ryan Mountcastle's repetitions and game experience at first base, his slow start at the plate barely drew notice. One hit in 13 at-bats from an upper-tier prospect who usually can roll out of bed and square up a fastball. But what about the glove? How does he look at first? Is he really changing positions again? Talent wins out again. Mountcastle entered yesterday's game with four hits in his last six at-bats. Driving the ball into the gap and...

The new Triple-A Nationals affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, have announced their radio and television broadcast agreements for the 2019 season. All 140 games, and any playoff contests, will be broadcast live on the radio on KRDU 1130 AM from Dinuba, Calif. Nats fans can access the radio broadcasts free of charge on FresnoGrizzlies.com and on the MiLB app. Radio simulcast of every Grizzlies game, home or road, is available on MiLB.tv and FresnoGrizzlies.com to subscribers, with most in high...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Spring training inevitably contains missteps and injuries. The Nationals had been lucky enough to avoid both - until today. Their 8-4 loss Tuesday afternoon didn't hurt as much watching Howie Kendrick pull up lame and limp back to the dugout with a left hamstring strain in the third inning or seeing Max Scherzer labor against a Red Sox lineup populated mostly with bench players and minor leaguers making the three-hour drive from Fort Myers. Luckily, neither issue seems...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The level of concern emanating from manager Brandon Hyde today following reliever Mychal Givens' second spring appearance didn't register. Nothing above a zero. The needle didn't move. Givens again lasted only two-thirds of an inning and was charged with five runs and four hits. He surrendered a leadoff home run to J.B. Shuck in the fourth and a three-run shot to Josh Bell with two outs in the Orioles' 10-4 loss to the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. A spring ERA of 40.50 was...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb didn't make a quick and unexpected exit today. The veteran right-hander finished what he started, completing his scheduled three innings against the Pirates. He gave up one run and two hits, with a walk and strikeout. Cobb threw 43 pitches, 20 more than he totaled in only two-thirds of an inning in Friday's spring debut versus the Rays. He felt better about his outing "just from a comfort level," a calmness allowing him to proceed through the lineup. "First time...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As Mark Trumbo attempts to reach his target date of March 12 to play in his first exhibition game, manager Brandon Hyde continues to exhibit patience and understanding through the process with no intention of rushing it. The desire to have him in the opening day lineup won't override common sense. "Mark knows how I feel," Hyde said. "I want him to be healthy, so I'm not putting any date on it. I think a player wants to try to get back and I don't want to put a date on it...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was scratched from the lineup today with a left hip flexor strain. Davis sustained the injury while fielding a throw up the line in Sunday's game against the Tigers in Sarasota. He batted yesterday against Jimmy Yacabonis in a simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and persistent discomfort lingered into this morning. The decision was made to replace Davis with Jace Peterson. Davis is considered day-to-day. "His hip flexor is a little...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Right now, the strained lower back muscle that's sidelined right-hander Justin Miller has been treated like a minor injury. But it's one that could have major ramifications for the Nationals bullpen. Miller complained about the problem, which delayed his spring debut until Saturday. And after pitching an inning against the Twins, he still had a problem with lower back soreness. The Nationals shut him down, sent him for an MRI and discovered the muscle strain. Today,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A week remains before Mark Trumbo's target date to make his spring training debut. Whether he's ready for it remains an uncertainty, another reminder given this morning that it's tentative. "We're trying to work toward that," he said. "I'm not sure if we're going to make it or not, but working hard. "It's a progression. Some days are better than others. Trying to remain optimistic. Wish I could give you a little firmer idea, but mixing in the at-bats and stuff." The...