SARASOTA, Fla. - Since first baseman Chris Davis re-signed with the Orioles, first baseman Christian Walker has gotten the question a few times. Will Walker be asked to play some outfield this year when he likely heads to Triple-A Norfolk. He said the topic has at least come up recently. "Possibly," Walker said. "Until now, that is pretty much what it is, just a conversation. I feel I'm athletic enough to make the adjustment and go out there and learn a new position. I'm here to help the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Jeff Beliveau continues to make impressive strides in camp after undergoing labrum surgery in April. Beliveau, signed as a minor league free agent, has thrown live batting practice four times. He took only one day off after Saturday's session before throwing in the bullpen yesterday. He previously had waited two days, but is recovering at a quicker pace. The Orioles haven't decided whether to get Beliveau in an exhibition game before they break camp. The primary...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned left-hander Chris Jones and outfielder Henry Urrutia to Triple-A Norfolk, optioned right-hander Jason Garcia to Double-A Bowie and reassigned right-hander Hunter Harvey to minor league camp. With these moves, the Orioles now have 47 players at major league spring training, including 10 non-roster invitees.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Hello everybody, and a pleasant good morning to you from central Florida. Glad to be back down here - after a short break - for the duration of the spring. Thanks to Pete Kerzel for holding down the fort in my absence. When last we spoke, the Nationals were only 2 1/2 weeks into camp, having played only four Grapefruit League games. Since then, they have begun to trim their roster, stretch out their starting pitchers and worked everyone into the lineup (including guys like...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals struck out 11 times Monday against Astros pitching, including three whiffs in the final two innings with the potential go-ahead run in scoring position. That's too much fanning for manager Dusty Baker, who wants his team to make sure they're not overaggressive at the plate. "Boy, it's a little frustrating when you've got a chance to win over and over, and strikeouts have plagued us." In the eighth, with Reed Johnson on third after Stephen Drew's two-out...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles received good news on Matt Wieters' MRI this morning. Manager Buck Showalter said the MRI didn't reveal any structural damage in Wieters' right elbow. Nothing that contradicted an earlier X-ray, according to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Leigh Ann Curl. "It looked good," Showalter said following an 8-7 win over the Phillies. "Dr. Curl, she's been with us a long time, said it looked good structurally, so that was encouraging. Just get some of whatever's left in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles fans see the pitching numbers and have expressed concern. The O's staff entered today with a spring ERA of 7.28, the worst in the major leagues. New O's starter Yovani Gallardo had a rocky outing this afternoon. At humid Ed Smith Stadium, he allowed four hits and five runs and gave up three homers in 2 1/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies. Gallardo was told about the fans' concern over the pitching during his post-start interview outside the Orioles...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 1, Astros 1 Recap: Joe Ross allowed only one run during his four-inning stint, a solo homer to Carlos Correa with two down in the first. The Nationals managed only one hit - a Brendan Ryan single in the third - off Houston's Dallas Keuchel's three innings. The Nats tied the game in the sixth when Reed Johnson was hit by a James Hoyt pitch with the bases loaded. The rally was stoked by Hoyt's wild pitch on a swinging third strike by Matt den Dekker, who...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 8, Phillies 7 Recap: Xavier Avery drew a bases-loaded walk off Daniel Stumpf in the eighth and Paul Janish stroked a two-out, two-run single on an 0-2 pitch to give the Orioles an 8-7 lead. Yovani Gallardo served up three home runs, two to Maikel Franco, in 2 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs and four hits, with two walks and one strikeout. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer in a four-run third. Caleb Joseph had an RBI double and Ryan Flaherty had a sacrifice...

SARASOTA, Fla. - There seems to be improvement in the condition of Matt Wieters' right elbow, but the Orioles scheduled a 10 a.m. MRI for their catcher with team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. "He said he's lost some of the soreness and the swelling is gone for the most part," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's gotten better every day. He felt better today than he did yesterday, so day to day. "I don't go up to him every day and ask, 'Exactly how did it feel? How did it feel at 7...