WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If you've been paying attention to the Nationals' starting lineups in recent days, you've certainly noticed a new wrinkle by manager Davey Martinez, rarely seen in these parts before but a bit more common around the rest of the National League: The pitcher batting eighth. It's happened the last three days, with Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday, Gio Gonzalez on Wednesday and Tanner Roark on Thursday night. And, if we are to believe Martinez, it's going to happen...

No doubt the entire Orioles roster will benefit from having right-handers Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner in the rotation this season. They combined to make 57 starts and throw 346 innings in the 2017 season. At 3.40, Cashner finished ninth in the American League in ERA last season and Cobb was 11th at 3.66. Both have been good against the AL East. Cashner has made just eight career starts versus the other four division teams, but is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA. Cobb has made 36 career starts against the...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - If there's such a thing as the Dog Days of March, this is it. The Nationals head north Sunday night. They open the season in Cincinnati in one week. They have long since practiced every bunt play and every pickoff move. With only a couple of exceptions, hitters have gotten all the at-bats they need and pitchers have thrown all the innings they need. At this point, everyone simply wants to get through the weekend in one piece and get out of town. Which doesn't...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The winter line of questioning for Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman revolved around the oddity of being the only two confirmed starters in the Orioles rotation. They heard about it in every interview. They talked about it in phone conversations. They couldn't escape it. There was no denying it or how unusual the circumstances. And they could joke about it while also wondering, like everyone else, how it would play out. Now they know. Two free agent signings and a re-signing...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Tim Beckham left today's game prior to the top of the third inning after tweaking his groin and he isn't expected to play on Friday. Manager Buck Showalter said Beckham, who hit a two-run homer in the second, came out as a precaution. He's hoping that Beckham will get back in the lineup before the team breaks camp. Beckham raced toward the line to field Blake Swihart's grounder in the top of the second and threw across his body for the out, one of the...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Nationals expect Erick Fedde to be a significant part of their big league rotation for a long time. But that day won't be coming quite yet. Fedde was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse this afternoon, a move the organization's top pitching prospect had sensed was likely for a while, certainly since the Nationals signed veteran Jeremy Hellickson last week. Though he didn't make the major league roster, Fedde did make an impression on the Nationals' new coaching staff,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - One year after proving to the Orioles that he could stay healthy and in their rotation for an entire season, Dylan Bundy has been chosen as their opening day starter. He'll take the mound against the Twins on March 29 at Camden Yards. Manager Buck Showalter informed Bundy of his decision prior to today's game against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. "Buck called us (starters) into the office and kind of explained how things were going to work," he said. "Obviously, I'm...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - If now is the time to start really preparing for the regular season, the Nationals are doing so by playing back-to-back night games. Might as well, right? This stretch of two games under the lights - unusual for spring training - begins tonight on the road against the Mets and concludes Friday with split-squad night games (home against the Astros, road versus the Marlins). Adam Eaton is starting in left field and leading off tonight, making this the first time he's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The door remained open for Mike Wright Jr. to claim the fifth starter's job. It seemed to widen with disappointing outings last night from Miguel Castro and Rule 5 pick Nestor Cortes Jr. A solid showing today against the Red Sox might have decided the outcome. Wright retired the side in order in the first inning on only 11 pitches, but he threw 30 in the second while allowing four runs and four hits and walking a batter. Chris Vázquez homered, and Iván De Jesús Jr....

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reduced their camp roster to 38 players today by optioning reliever Jimmy Yacabonis to Triple-A Norfolk. The cuts will come in waves, according to manager Buck Showalter, who meets with each individual. Yacabonis made eight appearances and allowed three runs and eight hits in eight innings. He walked five batters and struck out seven. Showalter intended to meet with his starting pitchers before announcing the opening day starter, news that should arrive on Friday....