Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart is well into his new season with the club, and with a new title. He is taking over the title from Spin Williams, who moved on to new responsibilities as the Nationals senior baseball advisor. Menhart has worked his way up with the Nationals as a critical pitching coach from Single-A Hagerstown to Triple-A Syracuse, and has coached the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan, Blake Treinen, Aaron Barrett and many...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Twins 10, Orioles 9 Recap: The Twins hit for the home run cycle today - solo, two-run, three-run and grand slam. Bud Norris turned in his longest outing of the spring, going four innings and allowing three runs and five hits, with one walk, one strikeout and two home runs. He permitted seven runs and eight hits over 3 2/3 innings in his first two starts. Chris Davis hit his third home run of the spring in the first inning and his second in two days. Trevor Plouffe...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Matt Wieters is hitless in two at-bats this afternoon, making him 0-for-22 in Grapefruit League games, and still hasn't been tested by a would-be basestealer. The Twins don't need to run. They've brought their power game to Ed Smith Stadum. Trevor Plouffe led off the top of the second with a home run off Bud Norris, making his third start this spring. Eduardo Nunez hit a two-run shot with two outs in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie, and Kennys Vargas drilled a three-run shot...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg faces Justin Verlander in one of Major League Baseball's juiciest pitching matchups thus far this spring. "Oh, yeah. It's a good one. Both those guys are pretty good. It'll be fun," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Strasburg wasn't able to make his last start after having an ingrown toenail removed, but he still got his work done on the minor league side. Williams doesn't expect Strasburg to deal with any ill effects from last week's minor...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he doesn't anticipate any cuts today. The roster remains at 45 players. "I haven't talked to Dan (Duquette) yet," Showalter said. "Unless he has an idea he wants to do, I don't think so. I'm done for a while. That's a tough day the last two days." Reliever Ryan Webb, who was bothered by swelling in his left knee, will throw one more bullpen session "and then get back in the mix, so that'll be good," Showalter said. Jason Garcia...

The Orioles will feature two initiatives from their Sarasota 365 community outreach program during today's game at 1:05 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles will host "Go Green" Day, presented by Waste Pro, for St. Patrick's Day at the environmentally-friendly Ed Smith Stadium. The team will wear specially-designed, green O's caps, which will be autographed, authenticated, and auctioned online at www.orioles.com/spring, to benefit Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. In addition, the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles started this camp with six non-roster pitchers, and now only Steve Johnson and Chaz Roe remain. Johnson said his right shoulder feels good following surgery in September to shave down a bone spur. He has looked good in three spring appearances, at times looking like the pitcher the Orioles saw in 2012 when Johnson went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA and helped the team make the playoffs. Manager Buck Showalter has taken note. "I kept telling Wally (Dave Wallace), 'I've seen...

LAKELAND, Fla. - There's a marquee pitching matchup today as the Nationals send right-hander Stephen Strasburg to the mound, while the Tigers will start former American League MVP Justin Verlander. Strasburg missed his last start after having an ingrown toenail removed. He gave up two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings in his first appearance of the spring on March 7. Right fielder Bryce Harper is one of three starters who made the trip to Lakeland today....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia will throw live batting practice today before the Orioles' game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Garcia tweaked his left hamstring exactly one week ago against the Yankees and has been held out of games. "That last pitch, I kind of felt something in my hamstring," he said. "Nothing major. It's just been some ice and stim, and I think I'm getting on the mound today. I'll see how it feels. "They said it wasn't even mild enough to grade. It...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is behind the plate and batting fifth today for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins that airs on MASN HD. Wieters gets to make throws to second base. As many as he wants, or as many as the Twins dictate with their running game. Bud Norris is 0-2 with a 7.18 ERA in two starts, allowing seven runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, with four walks, three strikeouts, a hit batter and a wild pitch. The bullpen includes Tommy Hunter, Darren O'Day, Tim...