I always like breaking down the latest top 100 prospects lists, so I was intrigued at the latest Sports Illustrated unveiling of top 100 major league players in its Feb. 26 issue, written by Gabriel Baumgaertner, Jack Dickey, Jay Jaffe and Jon Tayler. It is always interesting to see how others outside of the D.C. footprint value the Nationals roster. One might be surprised to find out they have tabbed seven Nats on this list, all in the top 84, and maybe even more surprising is that 2015 MVP...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Colby Rasmus makes his Orioles debut this afternoon, starting in right field and leading off for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium. Tim Beckham has moved down to eighth in the order. Chance Sisco is catching. Kevin Gausman makes his first appearance today and he's hoping to solve the slow-start issue that's hounded him the past. He owns a career 4.94 ERA and 1.473 WHIP in the first half and a 3.58 ERA and 1.243 WHIP after the break. Gausman began an...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For nearly two weeks, we've heard Nationals catcher Matt Wieters talk about how much better he feels than he did last season. We've heard Davey Martinez talk about how good Wieters looks. And we've heard Kevin Long rave about the changes Wieters has made to his swing. Which is all nice, except that it was all idle chatter until Wieters actually stepped to the plate in a game and did something to confirm all those positive assessments. Which is exactly what he did...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Agreeing to terms with slugger Pedro Álvarez on a minor league deal is the latest move made by the Orioles since they arrived at spring training. Toss him into the same sack as pitchers Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman and outfielders Alex Presley and Colby Rasmus. Corban Joseph and Sharlon Schoop get their own container over at Twin Lakes Park. The Orioles aren't done attempting to upgrade their roster, with a source confirming yesterday that they remain in contact with...

The Orioles may be coming off a season where their poor pitching contributed heavily to a last-place finish, but over the course of the club's history, they've had plenty of quality pitchers. This history includes a Hall of Famer in Jim Palmer and four pitchers that have won Cy Young Awards. Palmer won three (1973, '75, '76) and other winners included Mike Flanagan (1979) Steve Stone (1980) and Mike Cuellar, who shared the 1969 award with Denny McLain. This history includes four 20-game...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Given how much he has been throwing already this spring - including the 60-pitch bullpen session on the first day of camp - a nice, simple, 23-pitch outing today against the Braves must've felt like a breeze to Max Scherzer. Right? "No," the Nationals ace said with a laugh. "It's amazing, once you put a real game out there and you put somebody with a different uniform (in the box), everything gets turned up a little bit. So, yeah, I'll be sore tomorrow even though...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kevin Gausman will have to play spring training stopper on Monday. The Orioles are winless in four exhibition games following today's 7-1 loss to the Red Sox at JetBlue Park. They stranded two runners in the top of the ninth and fell to 0-3-1. Remain calm. Erick Salcedo singled off the pseudo Green Monster in left field before Aderlin Rodriguez struck out to send everyone into Sunday afternoon traffic on Interstate 75. José Mesa Jr., one of the three Rule 5 pitchers in...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Outfielder Jaycob Brugman has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, keeping him in the organization. He'll return to major league camp on Monday. The Orioles designated Brugman for assignment on Wednesday while re-signing starter Chris Tillman. Brugman gives the Orioles another left-handed hitting outfielder to join Colby Rasmus and Alex Presley, who were signed to minor league deals. Brugman has options and can be sent down if he fails to break camp with...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer was sharp in his spring debut (except for one pitch). Matt Wieters showed off his new hitting stroke (and his faster wheels). And Shawn Kelley had to be absolutely thrilled with his first appearance since a disastrous 2017. The Nationals' home opener at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is off to an eventful start, headlined by Scherzer's first outing of 2018. Scherzer retired six of seven batters faced over two innings, striking out three and throwing...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Outfielder Colby Rasmus will make his Orioles debut Monday afternoon against the Tigers in Sarasota. Rasmus will play right field. "I had a good talk with him a couple days ago," said manager Buck Showalter. "I told him if he doesn't think so, I could wait until Wednesday, but that's what he wanted to do." Showalter views Rasmus as a platoon player at this point in camp. Rasmus is a career .211/.290/.366 hitter against left-handed pitching. "I think, looking at the...