In conjunction with Major League baseball requirements, the Nationals have installed metal detectors at all gates at Nationals Park for the 2015 season. The new screening program will officially begin April 4 for the exhibition game against the Yankees. Prior to entering the ballpark, fans will have their bags checked and will then proceed through a metal detector. If metal is detected, there will be a secondary screening with a handheld wand-type metal detection device. Following the bag check...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 7, Yankees 6 Recap: Right-hander Doug Fister struggled in his fourth spring start, allowing four runs on seven hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked none, but saw his spring ERA climb to 4.97. Fister helped his own cause with his bat, however, hitting a two-run single in the fourth. Shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Jose Lobaton each added two RBIs. Trailing the Yankees 6-4 in the seventh, the Nats scored three times on...

VIERA, Fla. - Who will start opening day? That's the question that's been surrounding the Nationals ever since they stunned the baseball world by signing right-hander Max Scherzer. The wait is over. Nationals manager Matt Williams has announced he'll give Scherzer the ball on April 6 against the Mets at Nationals Park. I'm sure Williams was looking forward to finally revealing his opening day starter, considering he's had to answer daily questions about it. The 30-year-old has never...

VIERA, Fla. - Second baseman Yunel Escobar will make his Grapefruit League season debut today against the Yankees. This spring was critical for Escobar, who is essentially learning to play a new position. Escobar has primarily played shortstop throughout his eight-year major league career, but the Nationals traded away reliever Tyler Clippard to fill a need for a more offensive-minded second baseman. Escobar has played only 21 games at the position, all in his rookie season in 2007. Escobar was...

Here are answers to the questions making headlines in baseball: Question: Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned 25 years ago for betting on games he managed with the Cincinnati Reds, has asked new commissioner Rob Manfred to take a look at his case with a request for reinstatement. Is there a chance? Answer: No. Bringing Rose back would be great for Rose, but not for baseball. During the 1919 Black Sox scandal, gambling almost wiped baseball off the map. It would be difficult to...

VIERA, Fla. - There's been much hype in the Nationals organization and around baseball regarding the high ceiling of outfielder Michael A. Taylor. It didn't take long for him to introduce himself to the big leagues when he homered in his major league debut last August. Taylor reached a new level yesterday when he drew the attention of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander. The 23-year-old Taylor homered twice off the former American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, including a solo shot to the...

Every day is special for prospects who get to work with the big leaguers at spring training. Today is an even bigger day for 20-year-old third baseman Drew Ward, who makes his first start in spring training with the major league club as the Nationals take on the Yankees. The game will be aired on MASN HD at 1 p.m. "It's a big deal," low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said. News of Ward's first start today was big news at his church, not to mention the entire small town of...

Just when it looked like the Orioles were having a strong spring training in terms of few injury concerns, on came the news that catcher Matt Wieters will most likely start the year on the disabled list. So will minor league right-handed pitching prospect Hunter Harvey. The Wieters news is not surprising, as April 17 will be when he is 10 months removed from surgery. Whatever date Wieters starts his 2015 season, the Orioles will want to feel certain he can play a full season from that point...

LAKELAND, Fla. - The future of the Nationals was on display and shining bright in today's 7-7 tie with the Tigers. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor and right-hander A.J. Cole, both 23, helped the Nats get out to an early lead against former American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander. It was the first time Taylor had ever faced Verlander. In his second at-bat, Taylor worked the count full before smacking a solo home run the opposite way over the right field fence. "That was a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles don't have a game scheduled today. The complex is closed. The media also is discouraged from wandering over to Twin Lakes Park. This, my friends, is the one off-day of spring training. Too bad the forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms. We haven't had rain all spring and it arrives today. Back in my Fort Lauderdale days, I'd pick up friend and colleague David Ginsburg at his hotel by 9 a.m. and head down to South Beach under what always managed...