It is the most interesting and perhaps among the most important questions surrounding the Orioles - how will they reduce six starters to five to begin the 2015 season? It appeared we may have gotten a clue on Thursday when Kevin Gausman pitched in relief and manager Buck Showalter said he may be shortened up in upcoming spring training outings. Does that mean Gausman will start the year in the bullpen? Well, less than 24 hours after talking about Gausman pitching in shorter stints, Showalter...

VIERA, Fla. - On a windy day with storms all over Florida, Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann was able to bear down and deliver another solid performance in today's 1-1 tie with the Cardinals. The right-hander allowed just one run while scattering four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. "I felt good, felt strong," said Zimmermann. "Arm felt fine. It wasn't the ideal conditions to pitch in today, but I survived." "I didn't have very good control of anything. Moving...

VIERA, Fla. - First baseman Ryan Zimmerman left today's game after just two innings. "He's good," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He's played three in a row. He's fine. He dove for that ball, banged himself a little bit. But he's good. No worries." Zimmerman ended the first by diving to his left to make a spectacular stop on a sharply hit ground ball up the first base line by Cardinals left fielder Randal Grichuk. Zimmerman quickly jumped to his feet and flipped the ball to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Bud Norris threw 59 pitches today and headed to the indoor batting cage to continue, his day not done despite the heavy rain that forced the game's cancellation in the bottom of the fourth inning. "I think I did 20-25 more down in the cage to simulate another inning, a couple more hitters. Just wanted to make sure we got to the pitch count again," he said. "It's been an interesting camp for me, but I got my work in today. Threw a few more sliders. They were breaking pretty...

Notes on a couple of more players that low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson has worked with in the past and at this year's early camp in Florida. A pair of workhorses from last season, Rafael Bautista and Wilmer Difo, have been able to show their talents in Viera again. Center fielder Bautista played in three spring training games with the Nationals and went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. The 22-year-old hit .290 in 134 games last season with 20 doubles, five triples, five...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy banged his left shoulder today in the second inning while diving for a ball hit up the middle by the Rays' Jake Elmore. He would have come out of the game if it hadn't been canceled due to rain. Hardy wanted to keep playing, but manager Buck Showalter wasn't taking any chances. A run scored on Elwood's infield hit, which caused a collision between Hardy and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Hardy seemed fine afterward while sitting at his...

The Orioles have released three players from their minor league camp: right-handed pitcher Matt Price, outfielder Jake Luce and catcher Zane Chavez. Price was drafted by the Orioles in round seven in 2012 out of the University of South Carolina, where he played on two national championship teams. He was taken three rounds after the O's drafted his college teammate, first baseman Christian Walker. Over two seasons on the O's farm, Price went 6-7 with a 5.06 ERA in 62 games. He allowed 92 hits...

Today's Orioles-Rays game at Ed Smith Stadium has been canceled due to rain. There will be no makeup date. Fans holding paid tickets for today's game purchased online at www.orioles.com, via phone at (877) 222-2802, or directly from the Ed Smith Stadium Box Office may exchange their tickets for any of the remaining Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium, subject to availability, or request a refund. Season Plan Members and fans that purchased tickets through StubHub will automatically...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 4, Rays 3 (4 innings - canceled) Recap: The game was halted at 2:04 p.m. due to rain and canceled 16 minutes later. The stats don't count. It's like the game never happened. Bud Norris allowed three runs and four hits in four innings, with two walks, one strikeout and one home run. Rene Rivera hit a solo homer to center field off Norris in the third. Nolan Reimold homered on the first pitch thrown by Rays starter Everett Teaford and also doubled off Mike...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 1, Cardinals 1 (nine innings) Recap: Jordan Zimmermann allowed just one run on four hits with two walks, a hit batter and four strikeouts in six innings. Catcher Jose Lobaton drove in the Nats' only run when he doubled home second baseman Dan Uggla in the second. It was part of a 3-for-3 day for Lobaton that included two doubles. Need to know: The Nats offense is sputtering the past three games, having scored only four runs in 27 innings. Reliever Drew...