Pregame notes on Gausman, Cashner, Hays and more (tied 1-1)
Pregame notes on Gausman, Cashner, Hays and more (tied 1-1)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Kevin Gausman will make his next start Saturday afternoon against the Phillies in Clearwater. No need to push him back following the home plate collision in his debut. "He's good, ready to go," said manager Buck Showalter. "We got lucky there." Andrew Cashner impressed observers during today's two-inning simulated game in Sarasota. Cashner faced Mark Trumbo, Tim Beckham and Craig Gentry and he shattered a couple of bats. "Got some firewood for tonight," Showalter...
Harper has minor surgery for ingrown toenail (Nats win 6-2)
Harper has minor surgery for ingrown toenail (Nats win 6-2)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Bryce Harper had a minor surgical procedure Wednesday to remove an ingrown toenail, something the Nationals expect will allow their star right fielder to return to the field ASAP. Harper had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Marlins after he informed manager Davey Martinez of his ailment. He wouldn't have been able to play today against the Braves, either, but he wasn't scheduled to make the long, 2 1/2-hour trip to Lake Buena Vista...
Hays shut down from baseball activities for three days
Hays shut down from baseball activities for three days
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Austin Hays will be shut down for three days after receiving an injection yesterday behind his right shoulder to alleviate discomfort that's kept him away from the outfield since the intrasquad game on Feb. 22 in Sarasota. Hays has served as the designated hitter in two Grapefruit League games, with a late switch on Tuesday removing him from right field. He underwent an MRI yesterday on his shoulder/lat area that revealed some inflammation and led to the...
Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in Lake Buena Vista
Starting lineups: Nats vs. Braves in Lake Buena Vista
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Good morning from Walt Disney World. If it feels like we were just here ... well, we were. The Nationals played the Braves in this ballpark three days ago. Now they're back after another 2 1/2-hour drive up Florida's Turnpike. On the bright side, the club has only one more road trip longer than 45 minutes the rest of the spring (one game in Lakeland against the Tigers) so it won't be facing this situation much more. Because it's another one of these long trips, the...
Orioles and Rays lineups
Orioles and Rays lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Álvarez is making his first start today since rejoining the Orioles, playing first base against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Jaycob Brugman is in left field and Éngelb Vielma is playing shortstop. For the Orioles Alex Presley RF Joey Rickard CF Anthony Santander DH Pedro Álvarez 1B Ryan Mountcastle 3B Jaycob Brugman LF Luis Sardiñas 2B Chance Sisco CÉngelb Vielma SS Nestor Cortes Jr. LHP For the Rays Denard Span CF Mallex Smith LF C.J. Cron 1B Jake Bauers...
More mashing expected of Mancini in 2018
More mashing expected of Mancini in 2018
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are boarding a bus today for Port Charlotte and if it seems like they were just there, you've been paying attention to the schedule and game coverage. Two days ago. Same ride down I-75. Under an hour if the traffic and law enforcement cooperate. Left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. makes his second start of the spring after allowing one run in two innings against the Twins. Trey Mancini probably won't wear the gray pants today after going 2-for-3 yesterday with a single...
Runs have been scarce so far this spring for Nationals
Runs have been scarce so far this spring for Nationals
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If you have been paying attention to the Grapefruit League scoreboard - and, truth be told, you probably shouldn't be paying that much attention to it - you've no doubt noticed the Nationals exhibition season isn't off to a rousing start. The Nats have played six games to date, going 1-4-1 overall. (Ties are allowed in the spring, cause who really wants to watch extra innings in February and March?) They've also scored only 17 runs, and nine of those came in...
Hays and Mullins head up improved outfield depth on the farm
Hays and Mullins head up improved outfield depth on the farm
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When Baseball America ranked outfielder Austin Hays at No. 21 on its latest top 100 prospects list, that was a nice, lofty ranking for the youngster who went from Single-A Frederick to the major leagues last year. He was the Orioles' 2017 minor league Player of the Year, winning the Brooks Robinson Award. In fact, Hays is just the fourth Orioles outfielder since Baseball America's first top 100 ranking in 1990 to be ranked that high or higher. There have been 29 polls since the first...
Wrapping up a 10-9 loss
Wrapping up a 10-9 loss
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis switched to designated hitter today to accommodate a sore right forearm and launched a three-run homer to left-center field. The bat is fine. "I just had a little tightness in my forearm," Davis said after the Orioles' 10-9 loss to the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. "I noticed it a few days ago. I think it's a combination of sleeping with my arm tucked up underneath me and not really being able to get it stretched out the next day. Just...
Orioles to host Army-Navy doubleheader, play 2019 exhibition game in Annapolis
Orioles to host Army-Navy doubleheader, play 2019 exhibition game in Annapolis
Bobby Blanco
Orioles
It's widely considered that the rivalry between our nation's military and naval academies is the greatest in all of American sports. And while that rivarly is mostly associated with the annual Army-Navy football game, don't think that it doesn't carry over into other sports (or just about anything, for that matter). How cool is it that we have the Naval Academy right in our backyard in historic Annapolis and get to witness this rivalry firsthand year-round? Now that rivalry is being brought...