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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter noted the progress today made by Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. One run allowed over two innings in both starts, but not a duplication.
"I thought he was a little better this time out," Showalter said. "He can do a lot of things with the baseball. He's presenting himself as advertised. I thought he was a little better today. That was good to see.
"He's got good command of the fastball, works fast and can spin the ball. He'll need all...
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - There may be nobody else in Nationals camp with a status quite like A.J. Cole.
He doesn't have the track record to suggest he's assured of a spot on the opening day roster, but club officials willingly admit he's the likely No. 5 starter. He's out of options, so he'll have to make the team somehow or else be placed on waivers. And none of this may matter if the Nats decide to go for broke and just sign Jake Arrieta or one of the other established free agents still...
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The battle for the fifth spot in the rotation won't be decided until much later this month, with the possibility still alive that the Orioles sign another starter. In the meantime, Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. can only state his own case and try to gain the trust of the organization's decision-makers.
Cortes allowed one run over two innings for the second time in two starts, with a home run by Tampa Bay's Jesús Sucre tying the game 1-1. He labored in the second...
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...
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...
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...
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...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Pedro Ãlvarez 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 Ãlvarez 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...
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...
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...