SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez can put away his gray uniform pants. Jimenez will make his first home start of spring training Friday night against the Braves in Sarasota. Shelby Miller is listed as Atlanta's starter. The Orioles had Miguel Gonzalez penciled in as Friday's starter, with Jimenez pitching Saturday against the Braves in Orlando to wrap up the Grapefruit League schedule. However, today's game notes have Jimenez moved up a night and Saturday's starter listed as TBD. The Braves...

The Nationals announced new concessions, menu items, enhanced spaces for fans called Club 24, a Baseball Americana exhibit, a new main clubhouse team store, promotional items, historic home run commemoration, theme nights, giveaways and much more during a media tour of Nationals Park on Wednesday. Several of the newest enhancements are related to the 10th anniversary of baseball's return to D.C. "We've been planning for a really long time this celebration, really since the last pitch of last...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Brad Brach hasn't been told that he's made the Orioles' opening day roster. It's an assumption based on his performance last season and this spring, and the words of his manager following yesterday's outing. Brach tossed two scoreless innings against the Rays to lower his ERA to 1.74 in 10 1/3 innings. He's walked three batters and struck out 10. "Brach's going to be a key part of our bullpen," Buck Showalter said. "If he pitches well, it would mean a lot to...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Marlins 8, Nationals 0 Recap: This one was over quickly. A three-run homer by former Nats slugger Michael Morse began a Marlins onslaught in the first against right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. In the second, Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich added a two-run triple and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton followed with a titanic two-run homer. All told, Zimmermann gave up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Need to know: A double by...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is starting at shortstop again tonight for the Orioles in their game against the Pirates. Nolan Reimold is leading off and playing left field. Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate. For the Orioles Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young DH Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Ryan Lavarnway C Everth Cabrera SS Chris Tillman RHP

JUPITER, Fla. - Aside from starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, it's quite possible the Nationals are fielding their opening day lineup against the Marlins today at Roger Dean Stadium. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor certainly figured to be one to watch at the start of spring training, but the 23-year-old was thrust into the spotlight when Denard Span went down with core muscle surgery. Not only does Taylor's speed and athletic ability fill Span's void in center field, but he's also shown...

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that third baseman Anthony Rendon will begin the season on the disabled list. The news comes on the heels of Rendon's trip to Vail, Colo., yesterday for a third opinion on his ailing left knee. Dr. Steven Singleton concurred with Dr. James Andrews on a sprained left MCL for Rendon, the same diagnosis originally made three weeks ago when the injury occurred. "It's an injury that's kind of (a) week-to-week type injury,"...

With Cy Young-type starters and a punishing lineup, the Detroit Tigers have been the best team in the American League Central - if not the entire league - for four consecutive years. But that's all changing. The Tigers have taken a step back, especially with their rotation. The Kansas City Royals, defending AL champions, are without pitcher James Shields, but they added power bats to a strong bullpen, speedy lineup and tight defense. The Chicago White Sox added to their rotation, lineup and...

With manager Joe Maddon, big-money pitcher Jon Lester and power-hitting prospect Kris Bryant, the Chicago Cubs are all the rage in the National League Central. But are they are a serious contender or merely hype? Have their young players matured enough to compete in what might be baseball's deepest division? The St. Louis Cardinals, who have won at least 90 games in four of the last six seasons, are as good as ever. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a reasonable chance to win a division after being...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a pair of roster moves this morning, releasing veteran utility man Kevin Frandsen and reassigning outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to minor league camp. The 32-year-old Frandsen was signed as a free agent last March 26, a day after he was released by the Phillies, and hit .259 with a homer and 17 RBIs in his lone season with the Nats. He played four positions - first base, second base, third base and left field - and quickly became a popular member of a veteran...