WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Only three days after his manager said he expected him to miss "a significant amount of time," Michael A. Taylor was back playing catch and taking light swings this morning at the Nationals' spring training complex, suggesting his sprained left knee and hip aren't as seriously hurt as initially feared. Mirroring the light workout he revealed he went through Sunday, Taylor stood on the synthetic "agility" field just outside the Nationals clubhouse this morning and...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Drew Jackson's ability to handle the outfield corners, with today marking his first game in right, could influence manager Brandon Hyde's roster construction prior to opening day. Jackson figures to make the club as a second Rule 5 infielder along with Richie Martin, but he's been used in a utility role in camp and the resume is expanding. "He's so versatile. He can play a lot of different positions," Hyde said this morning while the Orioles took batting...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Austin Wynns remains hopeful that he can get back in the lineup within a few days and continue his fight for a spot on the opening day roster as the Orioles wind down the exhibition portion of their spring training. Wynns hasn't been able to play due to a strained left oblique. He did some defensive work yesterday on one of the back fields and has been hitting in the cage, but he's set to ramp up his activities. "I'm like full-go defensive, throwing running," he said....

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Nationals manager Davey Martinez's goal for right-hander Joe Ross is to get through three innings today in his first spring training start, a split-squad affair against the Mets on the road. Ross has appeared in five games in a relief role from February 23 to March 12. He has gone 7 2/3 total innings and has a 1.17 ERA. He has seven strikeouts and walked three. "We want to stretch him out a little bit," Martinez said. "See if we can get him three up and downs. We...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Split-squad games are a rite of spring training, but the Nationals haven't had one yet this year. That changes today, when half the team hosts the Marlins in West Palm Beach and the other half travels to Port St. Lucie to face the Mets (weather permitting). Fortunately we've got tag team coverage right now: I'll be writing about the home game, Byron Kerr will be writing about the road game. It's Patrick Corbin facing the Marlins in his second-to-last tune-up before...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Drew Jackson is making his first appearance in right field this afternoon as the Orioles travel to Lakeland to play the Tigers. Ryan Mountcastle is coming over from minor league camp to serve as the designated hitter. He's batting third. Trey Mancini is starting at first base, Chance Sisco is catching and Joey Rickard is in center field. Andrew Cashner makes his fourth spring start after allowing eight runs and 12 hits in 8 1/3 innings. He's walked four batters and struck out...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The 2018 season was pretty special for 19-year-old right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. He was taken No. 11 in round one of the draft by the Orioles, signed a large bonus, pitched well in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and now can't wait to see what comes next. It will be his first full season of professional baseball and could begin with him in the rotation for Single-A Delmarva. But first, a thought back to last year when, after he signed, he went 0-2 with a 1.40 ERA in nine...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals and Mets faced each other today in West Palm Beach, and they'll face each other again Sunday in Port St. Lucie. More importantly, they'll face each other six times in the season's first two weeks, dates that are rapidly approaching. It's not uncommon in that scenario for starting pitchers to elect not to take the mound for these final spring tuneups against the same lineup they'll be going up against for real in a matter of days. And indeed the Mets'...

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...