SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the Twins again today. It's getting stalkerish. This is the fourth game between the teams in 13 days and they're going to meet again March 17 and 22. The back-to-back games are coming against the same team that the Orioles will face to open the season, beginning on April 4 at Camden Yards. It's a bit strange, not to mention inconvenient. "Of course it is," said manager Buck Showalter. "Are we going to end there? Playing teams back to back in the...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Tanner Roark will be the first one to tell you he didn't have his best stuff tonight. He got behind hitters too frequently, but the Braves didn't force him to pay for that tentativeness in an 11-1 Nationals victory. "A little effectively wild, I guess I would say," said the right-hander, who surrendered a run on three hits and struck out three without issuing a walk. "But I mean I felt good, arm felt loose, body felt loose. Overall, I pitched behind in the count a...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 11, Braves 1 Recap: Tanner Roark went four innings, becoming the first Nats pitcher to work that deep into a game this spring. He allowed a run on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. The offense came alive behind Michael A. Taylor and Clint Robinson. Taylor had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Robinson slammed a long two-run homer to right. Stephen Drew drove in three runs. Tyler Moore also homered. Need to know: While some managers...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The young Nationals players huddled together at the far end of the fence in front of the visiting dugout at Champion Stadium, taking in the sight of the Braves taking batting practice in front of them. Erick Fedde, a right-hander taken with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, is the most recognizable, only because there's a lot of buzz about him in the organization. But you've got to know the furthest reaches of the Nationals farm system to know...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Earlier here we discussed the Orioles' top 10 ranked prospects, according to Baseball America. Here is the previous story and another look at the top 10: 1) Dylan Bundy 2) Hunter Harvey 3) Chance Sisco 4) Jomar Reyes 5) Mychal Givens 6) Chris Lee 7) Ryan Mountcastle 8) Trey Mancini 9) D.J. Stewart 10) Mike Wright According to the Baseball American Prospect Handbook (which went to press in early December), here are the players rated 11 through 30 with a comment on each and...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned left-hander Cesar Cabral, catcher Jonah Heim, infielder Trey Mancini, infielder Ozzie Martinez, left-hander Andy Oliver, catcher Chance Sisco and left-hander Ashur Tolliver to minor league camp. With these moves, the Orioles now have 51 players at major league spring training, including 11 non-roster invitees.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the Nationals get deeper into spring training, more talk turns toward how new manager Dusty Baker will construct his bench. How will he balance his reserves between left- and right-handed hitters? How much does he value experience over versatility? Does speed count more than the ability to hit cold off the pine? So what about it, Dusty? What factors will the skipper consider as he formulates what is expected to be a five-man bench? Figuring that backup catcher Jose...

SARASOTA, Fla. - X-rays taken this afternoon on Matt Wieters' right elbow didn't raise any concerns among the Orioles, according to manager Buck Showalter, who met with the media following an 8-1 victory over the Twins. The Orioles no longer are winless in the Grapefruit League, but all of the attention fell upon Wieters, who left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the first inning. "Just elbow soreness and decided not to take a chance with him," Showalter said. "Just get him out of...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 8, Twins 1 Recap: The Orioles won their first game and are 1-10-2, but Matt Wieters left after the top of the first inning with right elbow soreness. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run and four hits in 3 1/3 innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. Manny Machado had two doubles, an RBI and a run scored through two innings. Mark Trumbo delivered a two-run single in the first. Audry Perez, who replaced Wieters, singled and hit a two-run homer. Steve Tolleson added...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters came out of today's game against the Twins with right elbow soreness. The Orioles made the announcement a few minutes ago. We'll learn more about the severity of it after the final out. Henry Urrutia pinch-hit for Wieters in the bottom of the first inning. Wieters stayed in the dugout until the completion of the top of the second and walked alone to the clubhouse. Audry Perez replaced Wieters behind the plate. Eduardo Nunez singled with one out in the first and...