VIERA, Fla. - Monday's flurry of transactions moved the Nationals closer to finalizing their opening day roster, but they didn't completely settle the matter. If anything, the club now faces a couple of really difficult decisions in rounding out its bench and bullpen. "I wish we could carry 27, 28 guys, but you can't," manager Dusty Baker said. "Whoever it is, it's going to be tough. Because players have fans. They all have fans. One way or another, it's probably not a very popular...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are an unsettled team with three games remaining in Florida. We haven't figured out the rotation beyond Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo and Ubaldo Jimenez. We haven't figured out who's playing left field, since the club continues to check on available players. We don't know whether the Orioles are keeping Hyun Soo Kim, though I'll point out again that he wants to stay in the U.S. unless he had a sudden change of heart overnight. We don't know who's filling two...

So who was the last Orioles pitcher before Chris Tillman to make the start on opening day? It was Jason Hammel, who got the starting assignment in 2013. It was announced Monday that Tillman will make his third straight opening day start on Monday afternoon at home against the Minnesota Twins. Tillman is 1-0 with an ERA of 1.54 on opening day the past two years. In 2014 he gave up one run over five innings as the Orioles beat Jon Lester and Boston 2-1. Last year he gave up one run over 6 2/3 as...

Nod your head if you're ready to see the new Nationals Fan Choice Bobblehead! While you continue your countdown to opening day in Atlanta, you'll also be counting down until the big reveal. On March 10, the Nationals announced during a spring training game airing on MASN that the Fan Choice Bobblehead would be decided in a one-day vote. Any player currently on the roster and who had not previously had a Nationals bobblehead or other figurine was eligible, so it was game on. Over the 24-hour...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Tyler Wilson came off the field in the sixth inning today and hugged Mike Wright. Competitors for a spot in the rotation, close friends to the end. Wright allowed one run in five innings in the Orioles' 5-3 win over the Red Sox, and Wilson followed with two scoreless frames. A decision is pending and it won't be an easy one. Manager Buck Showalter said they're both starter candidates, though Wilson was shortened up today and could pitch again this spring. "Wally (Dave...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made several key transactions following today's rained-out finale at Space Coast Stadium, though not enough to bring absolute clarity to their opening day roster. Trea Turner, the organization's top position player prospect who came to camp trying to win the starting shortstop job, was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in a move that had grown in likelihood over the course of the spring. Reliever Rafael Martin also was optioned to Syracuse, while outfielder Tony...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 5, Red Sox 3 Recap: Mike Wright allowed one run and four hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches before coming out. Chris Young hit a solo home run off Wright in the second. Tyler Wilson allowed two hits in two scoreless innings. Good friends, good outings. Xavier Avery led off the first inning with his second home run. Paul Janish had an RBI single later in the inning after the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs. Nolan...

VIERA, Fla. - Maybe Mother Nature just couldn't bear the thought of watching the Nationals and Marlins play the final Grapefruit League game ever at Space Coast Stadium. Today's finale wound up getting canceled after the ballpark was drenched by a storm that swept through Central Florida and left the field and warning track under water. It won't be rescheduled. The Nationals desperately wanted to get this game in, both for sentimental reasons - it was going to be their final spring training...

Has there ever been a season where the three American League divisions have been more wide open? The Orioles, in the postseason in 2012 and 2014, spent more than $200 million to keep a talented roster together, and they are going to need all of that to contend in the AL East. The defending champion Toronto Blue Jays have firepower, but questions in the rotation. Boston has added rotation and bullpen help to one of the worst staffs in the AL in 2015 As usual, Tampa Bay has pitching depth. But...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Getting to JetBlue Park is a relatively easy task. Getting into the parking lot is much more complicated if you arrive an hour before first pitch. David Ortiz, who has announced his retirement following the 2016 season, is playing his final game here today. The Orioles are braced for whatever delays are forthcoming, including an on-field ceremony that just started a few minutes ago. Left-hander Brian Matusz sounded encouraged by his outing yesterday in an intrasquad game at...