Manager Matt Williams said the Nationals will get closer Drew Storen into today's exhibition game against the Yankees. Storen has been recovering from a blister on right foot. "He's available to pitch today," Williams said. "We plan on him pitching. He threw yesterday. They wrapped him up pretty good. He's got a good callous over the blister. So the anticipation today is to get him in there. We need to get him in there. It's part of his progression. We'll keep going with that." With...

Nationals manager Matt Williams liked what he saw yesterday as he leaned on the back of the cage at Steinbrenner Field and watched center fielder Denard Span participate in a full batting practice session. Today, Span will see his first live action since March 9 core muscle surgery when he plays in a minor league game in Viera, Fla. "He felt good," Williams said of Span. "The plan for him is to play today. So he'll get in the game down there, assuming that he's shows up and feels well....

SOMEWHERE ALONG INTERSTATE 4, Fla. - The Orioles have announced their lineup for today's final Grapefruit League game against the Braves in Lake Buena Vista. And there aren't a lot of familiar names. A collection of minor leaguers will comprise the starting nine, as Orioles manager Buck Showalter gives the projected 25-man roster players a mandatory day off. Zach Davies makes the start against the Braves, and the most recognizable name may be Christian Walker, who is serving as DH. For the...

To begin 2015, there are some subtle changes to the makeup of the Nationals and the way things look in the clubhouse. First baseman Adam LaRoche has moved on to the Chicago White Sox. Sporting a new haircut and thicker goatee, veteran shortstop Ian Desmond has moved his clubhouse locker location over to the stall previously occupied by LaRoche. He is now right next to Tyler Moore and closer to Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman. Bryce Harper's locker is now to his right. Desmond remembers when he...

The Grapefruit League of the Nationals' schedule is done, and Space Coast Stadium is in their rear view mirror. Today at 1 p.m. on MASN, the Nationals host the Yankees in the final exhibition game of the spring. The grounds crew is putting the finishing touches on the beautiful, new turf at Nats Park as I type, and a group of red-clad pitchers are stretching in the outfield. Sure signs that baseball's back. If you're coming to the game today - and particularly if you're sitting in the upper...

The countdown has been going on for several weeks, but we now sit on the doorstep of opening day. Nationals manager Matt Williams has one last bit of business to take care of before his ballclub takes the field against the Mets on Monday. Williams is currently staring at 27 healthy players (14 position players, 13 pitchers). That number needs to be paired down to 25 by Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.. Williams indicated on Friday that he wanted to get one last look at those competing for the final...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the final game of the exhibition schedule. Nothing left after today except a workout that proceeds the opening day festivities at Tropicana Field. Raise the roof. The Orioles are breaking camp but they're not heading north, unless you count the drive from Sarasota to St. Petersburg. And if you really want to get technical, they're heading south from Lake Buena Vista following today's game against the Braves. Minor leauger Zach Davies gets the start and he's...

TAMPA - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg turned in his best spring start in today's 8-2 win over the Yankees in the Nationals' final Grapefruit League game. Strasburg limited the Yankees to just one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. "It's just progress," said Strasburg. "I think I felt good a couple starts ago and then I twisted my ankle and pushed everything backwards. Now I think I'm going in the right direction." Strasburg's breaking balls were...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles reassigned infielders Paul Janish and Jayson Nix to minor league camp following tonight's 3-2 win over the Braves in the final home exhibition game of 2015. Both players will be assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. Janish is projected as the starting shortstop and Nix as a utility infielder. The camp roster is down to 33 players. The deadline for setting the 25-man roster is 3 p.m. Sunday. Janish, slowed early in spring training after undergoing surgery to remove bone...

The Orioles tonight announced that they have reassigned infielders Jayson Nix and Paul Janish to minor league camp. With these moves, the Orioles now have 33 players at Major League Spring Training, including two non-roster invitees.