CLEARWATER, Fla. - The two roster cuts that are coming following today's game involve players in the Orioles lineup and it's probably safe to assume that outfielder Cedric Mullins and infielder Luis Sardiñas will be reassigned to minor league camp. Outfielder Alex Presley is exploring opportunities via the opt-out clause in his contract, which explains why he isn't on today's lineup card. He could double back to the organization and begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk. Presley is...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - When they board their flight to Washington this evening, the Nationals will have played 31 Grapefruit League games over the last month. And they almost certainly will not have tried out the starting lineup they'll be using on opening day. With Ryan Zimmerman having spent all but one day this spring playing in minor league games, and with others having shuffled in and out of the lineup, manager Davey Martinez won't get a chance to try out his ideal batting order, the...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles made two more roster cuts before today's game against the Phillies while providing clarity to their rotation and bullpen Left-handed relievers Joely Rodriguez and Josh Edgin were reassigned to minor league camp despite outstanding work in spring training, which appears to signal that Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. has made the team. Cortes is starting today, but he seems ticketed for a long relief role behind five right-handed starters. Mike Wright Jr. and Miguel...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - And so the day has come. The clubhouse is full of suitcases and boxes, players are making sure they're not leaving anything behind and there's a different energy than any other day this spring. It's time to go home, and there isn't a person here who isn't thrilled about that fact. But first, one final game to wrap up the Grapefruit League season. The Nationals - who have a 12-16-2 record this spring, if you care about such things - face the Cardinals in one final...

Instead of The Jackson 5, how about a pair of Jacksons as we continue our minor league pitching previews? We continue with an update on right-hander Jackson Tetreault, who pitched for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nats and short-season Single-A Auburn. The 21-year-old went 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 games (six starts) in 2017, with 38 strikeouts and 17 walks over 40 1/3 innings. "Tall, lanky kid, very repeatable delivery," said Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart. "Has a good...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The end is near. The Orioles are down to their last Grapefruit League game today, dragging their meaningless 16-12-2 record to Clearwater for one final meeting with the Phillies. Most of the starters will be rested. Late injuries are a manager's nightmare. Just take a peek at what's happening to the Giants. Craig Gentry is leading off and playing right field. Trey Mancini is at first base, Pedro Álvarez is the designated hitter and Danny Valencia is the third...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Whatever combination of relievers makes up the Orioles bullpen on opening day, it's not going to offer much flexibility for manager Buck Showalter. The desire for an optionable 'pen has to be muted. Of the pitchers assured of breaking camp with the team, only Mychal Givens and left-hander Richard Bleier can be sent down and they aren't the typical candidates to ride the Triple-A shuttle. Brad Brach is out of options. Rule 5 picks Nestor Cortes Jr. and Pedro Araujo can't be...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Max Scherzer wanted to throw 100 pitches Saturday in his final tune-up before his opening day start in Cincinnati. He wound up settling for a pitch count of 93, but seven full innings on the mound, tops among all Nationals starters this spring. Exceptionally efficient early on - he only needed 40 pitches to complete his first four innings - Scherzer wound up not having a real chance to reach triple digits, unless he wanted to try to convince the coaching staff to let him...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will make two roster cuts Sunday morning and two more following the game against the Phillies in Clearwater. Manager Buck Showalter was satisfied with Chris Tillman's outing tonight despite the six runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Eleven batters came to the plate in the second, but he retired 11 of the last 12. "Chris got the six ups and pitched well after the one inning," Showalter said following a 12-4 loss to the Twins. "Gave up a swinging bunt in the...

With tonight's crowd of 7,769 for this season's Spring Training finale at Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles have drawn a total of 103,294 fans for 15 home games in Sarasota. It is the eighth time in nine seasons that the Orioles have welcomed more than 100,000 fans at Ed Smith Stadium. Since moving Major League operations to Sarasota, 988,349 fans have enjoyed Orioles Spring Training baseball at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles had six sellouts this spring, including the second-highest single-game...