SARASOTA, Fla. - For the second consecutive year, Chris Tillman will take the mound as the Orioles' starting pitcher on opening day. It's a streak that could continue to grow, given his progression over the past few seasons. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed this morning that Tillman will start against the Rays on April 6 at Tropicana Field. Tillman, who turns 27 next month, went 13-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 34 starts last year and exceeded 200 innings for the second consecutive season. He's 29-13...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said he didn't know before yesterday's MRI arthrogram that he would be shut down for a minimum of 10 days and he's unable to provide a timetable for his activation from the disabled list. Hardy was diagnosed with a strained muscle in his left shoulder, an injury sustained during Friday's game against the Rays that eventually was called due to rain. "I think they found exactly what they thought it was," Hardy said this morning while sitting at...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth, who is recovering from right shoulder surgery, finally was able to take his first at-bats against live pitching when he participated in a minor league game yesterday. He doubled, walked and drove in a run on a grounder to short in his three plate appearances. "I felt like it was the first game of spring training," said Werth. "So if I had a month left, I'd be right where I needed to be. But I got six days, five now. We're gonna do all the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder David Lough expressed his frustration today over a hamstring injury that's going to force him onto the disabled list. Lough no longer has back discomfort, but the left hamstring will prevent him from making the 25-man roster on opening day. "My hamstring was sore a couple weeks ago and then we think it went to my back and SI joint (sacroiliac joint)," he said. "It's just getting back to where I was at the beginning of spring training. We thought the best...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Everth Cabrera is getting another start at shortstop today for the Orioles, while J.J. Hardy receives treatment for a strained muscle in his left shoulder. Hardy said the shoulder feels much better, but the team needs to get the swelling down. He expects to field ground balls before he's cleared to swing a bat. Hardy also said he doesn't know when he'll be able to play. He's just relieved that surgery isn't necessary. Kevin Gausman gave up a tiebreaking two-run homer to...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals lost a valuable member of their bullpen yesterday when left-hander Jerry Blevins was traded to the Mets for outfield Matt den Dekker. Blevins was shaky for most of last season, as well as this spring, but nobody can argue what he provided for the Nats down the stretch a year ago - and especially in the National League Division Series. Blevins inherited runners all over the bases and was unhittable, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in critical situations during the...

Only three spring training games remain for the Nationals in Florida before they pack up and head north for Saturday's exhibition game against the Yankees at Nats Park. Injuries to third baseman Anthony Rendon and outfielders Jayson Werth, Denard Span and Nate McLouth will certainly adjust how the 25-man roster will look come April 6. The organization added outfielders Matt den Dekker and Reed Johnson on Monday. The Nats like den Dekker's lefty bat and speed to provide depth in the outfield....

One concern that has come up repeatedly about the Orioles for this year is how will they make up the 40 homers lost when Nelson Cruz signed with Seattle. My answer is this: Don't worry about the Orioles hitting homers. They do that as well as any team in the majors. Over the last three years, there are seven instances of a team having a 200-homer year. The Orioles have hit 200 or more three times in three years, while the rest of Major League Baseball has combined for four such instances, with...

SARASOTA, Fla.- The Orioles will try to make it through today without another player being pointed toward the disabled list. Outfielder David Lough and shortstop J.J. Hardy have been crossed off the projected 25-man roster over the past two days. Catcher Matt Wieters already was bumped from it. These subtractions won't destroy the Orioles, but it's not an ideal way to begin defending their American League East title. Alejandro De Aza looked perfectly fine in center field yesterday and can...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette indicated tonight that he's not in the market for another shortstop despite losing J.J. Hardy to a strained muscle in his left shoulder. An MRI arthrogram this morning revealed the injury, termed a "subscapularis strain," and Hardy can't perform baseball activities for a minimum of 10 days. Everth Cabrera, signed as a free agent on Feb. 25, started at shortstop today against the Rays in Port Charlotte and reached base four times...