JUPITER, Fla. - Max Scherzer often makes his craft look so effortless that it's easy to forget that he's part of a perpetual thinking man's exercise that requires a pitcher to constantly adjust and readjust both plan of attack and expectations. So, after winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards, here was the Nationals ace using an innocuous spring training start to try to integrate a few new wrinkles into his repertoire, just in case the hitters have caught up to him and think they've figured...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Danny Valencia has an RBI double today off Rays left-hander Anthony Banda and a two-run double off right-hander Yonny Chirinos. He's trying to demonstrate that he's an equal opportunity masher and not just a platoon player. Valencia is 4-for-9 with three doubles, a home run and four RBIs since signing a minor league deal with the Orioles and vowing to make the major league club. The Orioles sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth and took a 7-2 lead. Tim Beckham had a...

Who says the end of spring training needs to be a sad time? Yes, the ending of camp means the regular season is about to start. But after training, playing and living in an area for over a month, it can be a little bittersweet to leave your spring home for your regular season home. That can be especially said for the Orioles, who have made a longstanding commitment to the Greater Sarasota community since they moved their big league spring training operations there in 2010. So it's no surprise...

Top-ranked Spring Training Venue to Host Award-Winning Country Duo The Orioles today announced a special end-of-season charitable concert featuring the award-winning country duo LOCASH on Sunday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. ET. All proceeds from the event will benefit Sarasota Academy of the Arts Musical Theater Program. Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 9, at 10:00 a.m. at www.orioles.com/LOCASH, at the Orioles Box Office at Ed Smith Stadium, and by phone at 941-893-6312. Sarasota Academy of...

JUPITER, Fla. - Through three innings at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, rookie Victor Robles continues to handle major league pitching and right-hander Max Scherzer is dealing in midseason form. Robles, who will likely start the season at Triple-A unless an injury opens an opportunity in the Nationals outfield, doubled off the base of the wall in left-center off Adam Wainwright in his first at-bat to score Trea Turner for a 1-0 lead. Turner slashed a leadoff single that third baseman Greg Garcia...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Andrew Cashner will make his first appearance in a Grapefruit League game with Sunday night's start against the Phillies in Sarasota, which will air live on MASN. Left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. starts Thursday afternoon against the Blue Jays' Aaron Sanchez at Ed Smith Stadium. The teams meet again the following day in Dunedin with Miguel Castro opposing Marco Estrada. Castro will be making his Grapefruit League debut after working two innings Friday morning in a B game...

MASN's Nationals on-field reporter Dan Kolko is known by many names to our loyal fans and viewers. "MASN Dan," "DK" and "TV's Dan Kolko" are just a few examples. Starting this season, we have another nickname to add to the list: "Radio Dan." In addition to his MASN broadcast duties for this upcoming regular season, Kolko will also be hosting a weekly "Nats Insider" show on the Nationals flagship radio station 106.7 The Fan every Saturday from 8-9 a.m. The station released Kolko's...

JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman got dressed and headed out to take batting practice this morning in West Palm Beach, still attired in long pants even though most of the rest of the Nationals had switched into shorts and t-shirts, the uniform of the day for their morning workout. Another day passed without Zimmerman in the lineup for a Grapefruit League game - he's played only once, doubling in one of his two at-bats on March 3, and his Grapefruit League average has been stuck on .500 for since...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Orioles extended their streak of removing players from their camp roster this morning by optioning right-hander Jesus Liranzo to Double-A Bowie. The roster is down to 52 players and more cuts are coming over the next few days. Liranzo, who turns 23 today, was slow-played this spring to protect his right shoulder. He was charged with five runs yesterday against the Twins in Fort Myers, the last three scoring after he left the game. Meanwhile, Andrew Cashner may be...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are headed to Port Charlotte again today, where they picked up their first two exhibition wins last week, and the regulars making the trip include second baseman Jonathan Schoop and third baseman Tim Beckham. Danny Valencia is playing first base and batting cleanup. Austin Hays is the designated hitter. Other pitchers listed behind starter Mike Wright Jr. include Donny Hart, José Mesa Jr., Jimmy Yacabonis, Perci Garner, James Teague and Matt Wotherspoon. The...