WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman is in the Nationals lineup today against the Twins, the first time this spring he's played in a Grapefruit League game. He's hitting fourth and playing first base. Zimmerman was supposed to make his debut Wednesday, but was scratched when he came down with a bug that's been making its way through the clubhouse. It took him a couple of days to recover, and he went through drills in camp yesterday to prove that he was fit. It'll be interesting to see how...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In an Orioles spring camp where veterans seem to be making themselves readily available however needed for young players, outfielder Cedric Mullins is ready to soak up help like a sponge. And that is in all aspects of the game. But when it comes to one aspect specifically, Mullins has help in infielder Jonathan Villar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. And that is with stealing bases. The Orioles' 2018 minor league Player of the Year, Mullins made his big league debut late last...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In evaluating young left-hander Josh Rogers, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't afford to become distracted. Not for a second. Divert your eyes and another batter is retired. Another inning is completed. "I tell you what, if you go to get a drink with Josh Rogers on the mound, you better have your head up with your eyes on the field because you're going to miss about 10 pitches," Hyde said. "The tempo is unbelievable. He gets the ball and goes, he gets on the rubber and...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There were times last season when Adam Eaton would slice a ball into the gap and briefly forget that trying to stretch a double into a triple might not be the best of ideas, given his surgically repaired ankle. When speed has been your calling card, learning to rein it in can be a challenge. After rehabbing from a grisly knee injury in his first year with the Nationals, an awkward slide into home plate landed Eaton back on the disabled list early last season. When he...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Hunter Harvey didn't flash a 98 mph fastball today, keeping it in Fort Myers, but he tossed a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts in an impressive outing. Harvey's heater was 95-97 mph and he used it to strike out Christian Arroyo and strand Kevin Kiermaier, who walked with one out and moved up on a wild pitch. Former major league closer Bryan Harvey watched as his son also struck out Mike Zunino in the Orioles' 10-5 loss to the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Guillermo...

JUPITER, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg has been through enough spring trainings to understand that maximum effort doesn't always yield the most desired results. He's seen plenty of pitchers use their first game action of the spring to amp themselves up to the point that their mechanics suffer even if the radar gun readings rise. So in his first outing against Grapefruit League competition on Friday, the veteran right-hander kept it simple and focused on repeating his mechanics. He spent the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have brought back infielder Hanser Alberto, claiming him off waivers this afternoon from the Giants after designating him on Feb. 19 and losing him to a claim three days later. Donnie Hart has been designated for assignment, leaving four left-hander relievers on the 40-man roster. Hart was scheduled to pitch today against the Rays in a split-squad game. The Orioles designated Alberto to make room for left-hander Josh Osich on the 40-man and the Giants snagged him....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Among today's pitchers for the Orioles' split-squad afternoon game versus the Tampa Bay Rays will be right-hander Hunter Harvey, the club's 2013 first-round pick. It will be another much anticipated outing after Harvey's spring debut Monday in Fort Myers versus the Twins, when his fastball was touching 97-98 mph on the radar gun. Plus Harvey is now throwing a splitter as his changeup and O's hitters that faced him in live batting practice sessions are raving about him and...

JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman seems to have weathered the worst of the illness making its way through the Nationals clubhouse, and the first baseman is staying back in camp in West Palm Beach today to go through drills. Manager Davey Martinez said that if Zimmerman gets through today's action without any issues, he should play Saturday when the Nats host the Twins in Grapefruit League action. "He's going to go through a workout today and we'll see where he's at," Martinez said. "I told...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have had some time to digest the 13-year, $330 million deal that free agent Bryce Harper landed with the Phillies, and they're both happy for their former teammate and eager for the competition that the megadeal creates in what has become a much tougher National League East. "Man, it's awesome," third baseman Anthony Rendon said Friday morning at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. "So happy for him. I think it's great you have a team out there...