WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals will open the season with an eight-man bullpen and a four-man bench, a decision that may have as much to do with ensuring they didn't lose anyone from their organization who was out of options as it was about in-game strategy. As the club's flight home to Washington was departing this evening, the Nats announced they had optioned infielders Matt Reynolds and Adrian Sanchez to Triple-A Syracuse. The domino effect of that: All the relievers remaining in big...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If the goal was to end the spring on a high note, to break camp under the warm Florida sunshine feeling good about things before heading north into the still-thawing-out D.C. area, the Nationals sent the right guy to the mound today. Stephen Strasburg, facing the Cardinals' regular lineup, was dominant for 5 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and building up his pitch count to 96 during the Nats' 4-2 victory in their Grapefruit League finale. "He was good, really good,"...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles are going to make a few more cuts later tonight following a 6-5 win over the Phillies. Two of the more vulnerable players are outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Luis Sardiñas, who can be reassigned to minor league camp while the team inches closer to a set opening day roster. The camp roster will be down to 30 players and only one more cut is required with Zach Britton on the 60-day disabled list, Gabriel Ynoa and Mark Trumbo headed to the 10-day DL, and...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The two roster cuts that are coming following today's game involve players in the Orioles lineup and it's probably safe to assume that outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Luis Sardiñas will be reassigned to minor league camp. Outfielder Alex Presley is exploring opportunities via the opt-out clause in his contract, which explains why he isn't on today's lineup card. He could double back to the organization and begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk. Presley is...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When they board their flight to Washington this evening, the Nationals will have played 31 Grapefruit League games over the last month. And they almost certainly will not have tried out the starting lineup they'll be using on opening day. With Ryan Zimmerman having spent all but one day this spring playing in minor league games, and with others having shuffled in and out of the lineup, manager Davey Martinez won't get a chance to try out his ideal batting order, the...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles made two more roster cuts before today's game against the Phillies while providing clarity to their rotation and bullpen Left-handed relievers Joely Rodriguez and Josh Edgin were reassigned to minor league camp despite outstanding work in spring training, which appears to signal that Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. has made the team. Cortes is starting today, but he seems ticketed for a long relief role behind five right-handed starters. Mike Wright Jr. and Miguel...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - And so the day has come. The clubhouse is full of suitcases and boxes, players are making sure they're not leaving anything behind and there's a different energy than any other day this spring. It's time to go home, and there isn't a person here who isn't thrilled about that fact. But first, one final game to wrap up the Grapefruit League season. The Nationals - who have a 12-16-2 record this spring, if you care about such things - face the Cardinals in one final...

Instead of The Jackson 5, how about a pair of Jacksons as we continue our minor league pitching previews? We continue with an update on right-hander Jackson Tetreault, who pitched for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nats and short-season Single-A Auburn. The 21-year-old went 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 games (six starts) in 2017, with 38 strikeouts and 17 walks over 40 1/3 innings. "Tall, lanky kid, very repeatable delivery," said Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart. "Has a good...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The end is near. The Orioles are down to their last Grapefruit League game today, dragging their meaningless 16-12-2 record to Clearwater for one final meeting with the Phillies. Most of the starters will be rested. Late injuries are a manager's nightmare. Just take a peek at what's happening to the Giants. Craig Gentry is leading off and playing right field. Trey Mancini is at first base, Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter and Danny Valencia is the third...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Whatever combination of relievers makes up the Orioles bullpen on opening day, it's not going to offer much flexibility for manager Buck Showalter. The desire for an optionable 'pen has to be muted. Of the pitchers assured of breaking camp with the team, only Mychal Givens and left-hander Richard Bleier can be sent down and they aren't the typical candidates to ride the Triple-A shuttle. Brad Brach is out of options. Rule 5 picks Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo can't be...