TAMPA - Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated on Wednesday that today's lineup would be his regulars. If so, that would mean that Danny Espinosa would be the team's starting second baseman on opening day. Espinosa has spent the entire spring transitioning from a switch-hitter to exclusively batting from the right side of the plate. He was only 7-for-51 (.137) in the exhibition season, but Williams may prefer Espinosa's glove to Dan Uggla's at second, especially with other new faces...

The Orioles today announced dates for several "Operation Orange" rallies as the team prepares to open the 2015 season. The rallies will include Orioles giveaways, trivia and prizes, an appearance by the Oriole Bird, and an autograph session with a former Orioles player for an hour at each event. The first "Operation Orange" rally will be held at the Official Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria Mall on Monday, April 6 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Orioles Radio Network affiliate WSBA Radio (910...

TAMPA - Spring training statistics are fairly ridiculous to dissect given the amount of minor leaguers that participate and the inconsistent lineups. But one category the Nationals didn't want to lead during the exhibition season was errors committed. Their 34 errors are tied with the Giants for the most this spring, although the Nats have reached their total in three fewer games. Ironically, the two teams tied for 100 errors last season, leaving them sitting right in the middle of the pack of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As more players are peeled off the camp roster, left-hander Brian Matusz remains in the clubhouse and the bullpen. Still an Oriole, still a reliever. Matusz, 28, has been the subject of trade rumors and speculation. Scouts have been tracking his appearances all spring, and the Orioles seemed to be showcasing him in two starts. Or maybe they were just letting him work on his changeup. You decide. The Mets were interested, but they acquired two left-handed relievers on Monday and...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - T.J. McFarland gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on a wild pitch and Joe Benson's fourth hit of the night, as the Braves walked off with a 6-5 win over the Orioles. McFarland stranded two inherited runners in the seventh and tossed a scoreless eighth, but he didn't record an out in the ninth. He's allowed 10 earned runs (11 total) and 23 hits in 12 1/3 innings for a 7.30 ERA. "I don't think anybody threw the ball better tonight on the field than...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 6, Orioles 5 Recap: Travis Snider came off the bench and hit a two-run homer off Chien-Ming Wang in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. Everth Cabrera followed with a walk, stole second, advanced on a throwing error and scored on Steve Pearce's second hit of the night. Making his final spring start, Wei-Yin Chen surrendered two runs and six hits in five innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Chen retired eight in a row before allowing two straight...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis has singled twice tonight, matching his hit total coming into the game. Markakis singled off Wei-Yin Chen in the fourth and reliever Wesley Wright in the sixth. Chen allowed two runs and six hits in five innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. I've got him at 68 pitches, 49 for strikes. Chen's most difficult inning was his last, when he threw 11 of 19 pitches for strikes and allowed both runs on Andrelton Simmons' RBI single and a wild pitch. The...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold led off tonight's game with a single on the first pitch thrown by Braves starter Alex Wood, a broken-bat liner into center field. Reimold is 15-for-45 (.333) this spring with two home runs, eight RBIs and eight walks. He's earned a spot on the 25-man roster, but is there room for him? David Lough is going on the disabled list, but the Orioles seem inclined to keep Jimmy Paredes, who's out of options. Reimold signed a minor league deal and can be...

As they get ready to begin their 20th season, the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds have made some upgrades to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. The changes won't actually be seen by the fans, but they will be very appreciated by the players. "This offseason, the Shorebirds - along with our partners from Wicomico County, Md., that own the stadium - took on an improvement project," Shorebirds general manager Chris Bitters said. "We had a major renovation and update of the locker room...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The No. 22 Braves jersey doesn't look right hanging in Nick Markakis' spring training locker. The full beard, neatly trimmed for at least the next few hours, is permitted in his new organization. Which one seems stranger to the former Orioles right fielder? "It's 22," he said today after greeting the Baltimore media. "Every time I come up to the plate I'm expecting 21, but it's part of change, though. It's part of life. We'll get used to it. "I'm comfortable...