FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles have reached the midway point of spring training and manager Brandon Hyde can't fathom the task of compiling a 25-man roster and settling the competitions that have spread through camp. Much too soon. "I think we're still really in the heart of the evaluation process," Hyde said during batting practice. "A lot of these guys have teens at-bats, between 10-20 at-bats. It's hard to evaluate a guy on that. There are still guys coming in the mix. (Jesús) Sucre...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Everyone knows the Nationals have a powerful starting rotation - so long as the top five starting pitchers remain healthy. But what about the rotation depth? Manager Davey Martinez likes what he sees so far, and thinks there are enough pitchers to form a decent starting five at Triple-A Fresno plus back up the rotation in D.C. "I like where we're at right now," Martinez said Monday morning before departing for the Grapefruit League game in Jupiter against the Marlins....

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nate Karns will pitch in his second spring training game Tuesday while coming out of the bullpen against the Pirates in Sarasota. Karns didn't experience any discomfort in his right arm following Saturday's bullpen session and will get back on the mound after Alex Cobb makes the start. The Orioles backed off Karns, skipping him Friday night in Tampa in favor of left-hander John Means, after he felt that he didn't bounce back in normal fashion following last Monday's debut...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Jeremy Hellickson faces the Marlins this afternoon, his second start of the spring. In his first Grapefruit League outing on Feb. 27 against the Astros, Hellickson went two scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and striking out three. Ryan Zimmerman is back at first base today, and under manager Davey Martinez's plan of playing him every other game, the veteran will get the benefit of tomorrow off and Wednesday's scheduled off-day. A spring training oddity: Both...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Trey Mancini has attempted one stolen base in his major league career, back in 2017. He's 1-for-1. But a successful swipe of second in his spring debut is costing him games. Mancini remains day-to-day after jamming his left pinky finger, which he had wrapped this morning while standing at his locker. The hand slammed into Blue Jays shortstop Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on Feb. 24 in Sarasota, and while Mancini continued to play the finger swelled and impacted him at the plate. To the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Hanser Alberto makes his Orioles debut today against the Twins in Fort Myers after returning to camp via another waiver claim. Alberto is starting at second base, with Rule 5 pick Richie Martin at shortstop. Chance Sisco is batting third. DJ Stewart is in right field, Cedric Mullins in center and Eric Young Jr. in left. Dylan Bundy, working on three days' rest, is making his second spring start. Left-hander Josh Osich will make his Orioles debut. Also on the trip are David...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Cody Carroll was handed the ball and a two-run lead yesterday and retired the side in order to close out a 7-5 win over the Tigers. All it took were three fly balls - from Kody Clemens, Héctor Sánchez and Wenceel Perez - to get the save. Carroll struck out three batters in his previous outing on Thursday, also in the ninth inning, but a fly ball from the Phillies' Darick Hall carried over the right field fence for a game-tying two-run homer. Saves come and go. "You just...

SARASOTA, Fla. - He's got new teammates here in Birdland since coming over from Oakland as a Rule 5 pick in December. But the process of blending in has been smooth, quick and easy for infielder Richie Martin. "I feel comfortable," he said. "At the end of the day it's baseball. Doesn't matter really what level you are at, it's the same game. It's going good for me. Getting in the swing of things. Everyone around here is real comforting and helpful and showing us young guys the ropes....

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though the Nationals are interested in signing Craig Kimbrel, they must overcome a significant hurdle before inking a deal with the free agent closer. Sources have confirmed that the Nationals front office would like to add Kimbrel to serve as their ninth-inning arm, but such a move would require ownership approval because a contract would eclipse the luxury tax threshold. So far, ownership is unwilling to exceed the luxury tax for a third consecutive season, the sources...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In a situation where several young outfielders are trying to put their best foot forward at Orioles camp and a few are doing it, Anthony Santander can sometimes get overlooked. But today was not one of those times. Beginning the game 3-for-10 in spring training, he went 3-for-3 with a walk in the team's 7-5 win over Detroit that improved the O's record to 5-3-2. Batting ninth as the DH, the switch-hitter doubled off lefty starter Matthew Boyd in the third. In the next inning...