SARASOTA, Fla. - With the injuries piling up late in camp, the Orioles almost lost starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez tonight. Jimenez was hit on a right ankle by a sharp bouncer from Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt leading off the top of the second inning. Manager Buck Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells raced out of the dugout as Jimenez limped around the mound. Jimenez threw a few warmup tosses, Showalter patted him on the back and play resumed without a pitching change. No...

After winning two of the last three National League East titles, and then losing in October's National League Division Series, the Nationals are on the hot seat of expectations. They've added $210 million pitcher Max Scherzer to what was already the best rotation in baseball. And with shortstop Ian Desmond and starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister eligible for free agency after the season, the Nationals have a sense or urgency. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season with...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles need to get out of Florida before they run out of players. Or at least break camp before they start breaking bones. Jimmy Paredes hasn't played since Tuesday and now we know the reason. He strained a muscle in his lower back a few days ago while lifting weights and he's likely headed to the disabled list. Paredes squatted to pick up a weight, straightened and injured his back. He received treatment again today. "It's legit," said manager Buck Showalter. "He...

After 94 wins last season and a division championship, the Orioles go into this season as defending American League East champions for the first time since 1998. New eras begin in Tampa Bay, with manager Joe Maddon gone, and New York, where shortstop Derek Jeter has retired. The Yankees are hoping for health all over the diamond, especially on the mound. The Tampa Bay Rays have a new-look lineup built around Evan Longoria, but chances are it will not be that scary. The Boston Red Sox have...

Once again, I will go on record with my prediction for the order of finish for the American League East this year: Orioles 93-69Toronto 86-76Boston 83-79New York 78-84Tampa Bay 72-90 I think the Orioles are the most well-rounded and best of the bunch. They have an excellent defense, enough offense that will again feature plenty of homers, and solid but underrated pitching. The rotation should be good again, despite what FIP stats project. The Orioles should win 90 or more again, despite what...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Jimmy Paredes could begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his lower back. The injury occurred a few days ago while Paredes was lifting weights at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He hasn't played since Tuesday. Paredes would join catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J Hardy and outfielder David Lough on the DL. However, Paredes wouldn't be eligible to return until April 16, five days later than the others in the group. Paredes, who's out...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy passed along another encouraging report today regarding the strained muscle in his left shoulder. Hardy was told Monday that he would be shut down a minimum of 10 days after undergoing an MRI arthrogram on his shoulder. He's headed to the disabled list and won't be eligible to return before April 11, but the swelling has been reduced and his optimism seems to be rising. "It's been good so far," Hardy said. "I feel like every day there's been...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Yankees 2 Recap: Right fielder Bryce Harper got the Nats started early with a RBI triple off Yankees starter CC Sabathia. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and shortstop Ian Desmond pushed runs across the plate with a single and double, respectively, to give the Nats a three-run first inning. First baseman Mike Carp popped a three-run homer in the seventh, his first of the spring. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on six...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is starting again at shortstop today as the Orioles continue their series against the Braves. Feel free to read everything into it. He appears to be the favorite to replace injured J.J. Hardy on opening day. Today's lineup could almost mirror the one that manager Buck Showalter will use on April 6 at Tropicana Field, except Jonathan Schoop is listed among the reserves. Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base today. Stay tuned. The bullpen includes Zach Britton,...

One concern that some fans seem to have about Orioles closer Zach Britton is the sense that American League hitters will make an adjustment against him to make his job tougher in 2015. The adjustment would be laying off more of his sinkerball pitches that dip low and out of the strike zone. The thinking is, lay off the pitch, make him bring it up in the zone and then they can hit it with more authority. Sounds reasonable, but Britton doesn't exactly buy that theory. "Hitters will make...