ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2 Recap: Wei-Yin Chen joined Ubaldo Jimenez as the only Orioles to go five innings in a Grapefruit League game. He threw 62 pitches, 39 for strikes. Chen allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Former Oriole Steve Tolleson hit a solo homer off Chen in the third. Caleb Joseph had an RBI double in the second after Blue Jays starter Daniel Norris hit Nolan Reimold with a pitch. Delmon Young homered in the seventh....

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 1, Nationals 0 Recap: Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer was spectacular, allowing just four baserunners while striking out a whopping nine Cardinals in six innings. St. Louis threatened only in the fifth when catcher Yadier Molina singled and John Jay doubled. But Scherzer struck out Cardinals starter Michael Wacha to end threat. Need to know: Nats second baseman Yunel Escobar grounded out three times and is now 1-for-5 in his two exhibition games. Tough...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Logan Verrett tossed another scoreless inning yesterday, retiring the Pirates in order in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Garcia is scheduled to pitch today against the Blue Jays in his fourth spring training appearance. One Rule 5 right-hander following another for the Orioles. Can they keep both pitchers in a bullpen that's already crowded? Can they hold onto at least one? Let's start with the least likely scenario, that a contender can carry two Rule 5...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis will serve as the designated hitter today in the new Orioles lineup against the Blue Jays. Steve Pearce remains at first base and Jimmy Paredes goes to the bench. Manager Buck Showalter said he didn't want Davis sitting for two straight days, and the veteran isn't going to Lakeland on Thursday. Could the Orioles also be shielding Paredes from the bevy of scouts at Ed Smith Stadium? Draw your own conclusions. Scouts already have gotten plenty of looks at Paredes,...

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams is concerned Anthony Rendon will not be ready for the beginning of the season after revealing that his third baseman underwent a second MRI exam on his sprained left MCL yesterday. Rendon has not played since injuring the knee while making a brilliant stop against the Braves on March 9. The Mets come to Nationals Park in just 13 days for the official start of the 2015 season. Williams' optimism for Rendon's availability is fading quickly. "I...

Crazy Horse is a name that evokes the history of Native Americans in the western United States at a time when they were being pushed from their lands, and the violence between U.S. troops and numerous tribes was ongoing. Among the most noted of all chiefs, Crazy Horse's life is tough to recreate. Larry McMurtry tried to do just that in "Crazy Horse - A Life," written in 1999. The writing is suburb. The story is engrossing. Check out the video for more on the book. I am delighted the Enoch...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A lineup change is coming for the Orioles. Chris Davis was listed among the reserves, but he's going to play first base or serve as the designated hitter. Steve Pearce will move into the DH role if Davis is in the field. Jimmy Paredes was supposed to DH, but he's headed to the bench. It's not a health issue. Davis won't travel to Lakeland on Thursday and manager Buck Showalter doesn't want him sitting for two straight days. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop isn't available...

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals will skip left-hander Gio Gonzalez in the rotation for today's game and pitch opening day starter Max Scherzer to keep him on schedule for the beginning of the season. Scherzer has allowed just three runs in 14 innings during Grapefruit League competition. Yunel Escobar will start at second base and bat leadoff in his second appearance of the spring. He was 1-for-2 in Monday's win over the Yankees. Danny Espinosa makes his second spring start at third base...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Delmon Young isn't a guy who's accustomed to having reporters around his locker in spring training, which explained his reaction today when a few members of the media approached him. He glanced up, saw us and got a puzzled look on his face. It's just nice to catch up, no matter how brief the conversation. Young routinely is the first Oriole to arrive each morning, leaving his locker unoccupied when reporters are allowed inside the clubhouse. He's in the weight room or...

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough said he hopes to get back on the field within the next few days after being scratched from yesterday's Orioles lineup with back spasms. Lough isn't listed among the reserves today and may not play on Thursday against the Tigers in Lakeland. He was supposed to start in center field yesterday against the Pirates in Bradenton, but his back tightened up before he could make the trip. "I was in the batting cages picking up balls," he said. "I picked up a ball and my...