WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - His position along the first base line, with 70-some others in Nationals uniforms standing to his right and only home plate to his left, was unfamiliar. Davey Martinez had never stood at the head of the line for a national anthem before, and this was a particularly poignant anthem, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Angelique Meneses singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" one week after 17 people were killed at her high school in nearby...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tommy Milone would need a lot of things - bad things, from the Nationals' perspective - to happen to find his way into the opening day rotation. But a few more outings like he offered up today and the journeyman left-hander, if nothing else, will have made a strong impression on the club's decision-makers, which could pay off down the road. Handed the ball to start today's Grapefruit League opener, Milone set the tone with a solid two-inning performance that was as...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Mike Wright Jr. worked two innings this afternoon in the Orioles' exhibition opener against the Rays and left on a high note. Wright retired the side in order in the second on 11 pitches, eight for strikes. He handled all of the outs - striking out Ryan Schimpf, retiring Johnny Field on a tapper to the mound and catching Justin Williams' pop up. Left-hander Chris Lee replaced Wright to begin the top of the third inning with the Rays leading 1-0. Lee loaded the bases with no...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If he had his way, Adam Eaton would have been playing in games weeks ago. There weren't any games to play weeks ago, of course, so today's Grapefruit League opener was the first opportunity for the Nationals left fielder to make his return from a torn ACL. That return isn't happening quite yet, though. Eaton (like all of his lineup regulars) is not playing this afternoon against the Astros. Manager Davey Martinez didn't offer any specifics about the plan to work...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Though the Orioles have avoided serious injuries as they approach today's exhibition opener, two scratches created unexpected changes in their lineup and rotation. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop is day-to-day with bursitis in his left elbow and Miguel Castro won't make Sunday's start against the Red Sox in Fort Myers due to patella tendinitis in both knees. Castro also may be experiencing some back soreness because he's been stretching out on the clubhouse floor in front of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tim Beckham didn't have a ball hit to him yesterday during the intrasquad game, leaving his work at third base on the back fields as the only way to assign an early grade. Beckham is starting at third base again today in the Orioles' exhibition opener against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. He's taking a break from his daily sessions with infield instructor Bobby Dickerson, who's overseeing the switch of Beckham from shortstop to third base while Manny Machado returns to his...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Jonathan Schoop has been scratched from today's lineup and replaced by Luis Sardiñas. The Orioles haven't provided an explanation, but Schoop walked through the clubhouse this morning with an ice pack wrapped on his left elbow. Trey Mancini moves up to second in the order, with Manny Machado batting third. For the Orioles Tim Beckham 3B Trey Mancini LF Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo DH Anthony Santander RF Caleb Joseph C Luis...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Anthony Santander gets the start in right field today for the Orioles' exhibition opener against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. Tim Beckham is leading off and playing third base. Adam Jones is the cleanup hitter. Caleb Joseph is catching. Most of the regulars are playing today. For the Orioles Tim Beckham 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Manny Machado SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Mark Trumbo DH Trey Mancini LF Anthony Santander RF Caleb Joseph C Mike Wright RHP

Nationals prospects for their early minor league camp arrive Saturday at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. I expect to get that full roster to you as early as next week. One of their former up and coming stars, shortstop Wilmer Difo, now could see a serious look as an everyday player, especially the first month of the season. BaseballReference.com projections have Difo reaching 389 plate appearances, which would be up from 365 in 2017. The prediction believes Difo can get to 14 doubles,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - No, it doesn't count. No, it won't feature many recognizable names. But you know what? It's still a baseball game and it's going to be played today. Yes, the Grapefruit League has arrived, and not a moment too soon for fans who have patiently waited since October for the Nationals to take the field once again. Today's exhibition opener will be played in the Nats' home ballpark but it won't be a Nats home game. The World Series champion Astros get to play host for...