TAMPA, Fla. - Right-hander Tyler Wilson is facing most of the Yankees' regulars today in his first spring training start. Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is sidelined with an oblique injury. Catcher Brian McCann also is missing from the lineup. Otherwise, it's the A team. The Yankees are starting Scott Baker this afternoon after rain interrupted yesterday's game and prevented him from pitching. They listed CC Sabathia as the starter, switched to Bryan Mitchell and switched again to Baker. Baker...

VIERA, Fla. - Dan Uggla was considered a long shot to make the Nationals roster when he showed up for spring training. A lot has changed in the past month-and-a-half for the former three-time All-Star who's batting .303 with two homers, two doubles and six RBIs in 16 Grapefruit League games. "I'm really pleased with the way I've been seeing the ball," Uggla said. "The timing the first 10-15 at-bats was coming together all in itself just like it is at the beginning of every spring...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy offered an update this morning on his left shoulder. "It's a little bit more sore today than yesterday," he said, adding that he wouldn't have played this afternoon against the Yankees in Tampa if his name appeared on the travel roster. Hardy isn't sure whether he'll need to undergo tests on his shoulder. "I think everyone kind of anticipated it being more sore today than yesterday, so I don't know. I don't know what their plan is," he...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said his left shoulder is more sore this morning after slamming it into the ground yesterday while diving for a ground ball. Hardy will rest today - he wasn't scheduled to make the trip to Tampa - and be re-evaluated on Sunday. He took his first anti-inflammatory pill and joked that he tried to finally make it through an entire spring without one. Hardy said the injury wasn't caused by his collision with second baseman Jonathan Schoop, "so don't...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles make their only trip to Tampa today to play the Yankees and minor league right-hander Tyler Wilson escapes the bullpen to make his first start. Bring on A-Rod. Manager Buck Showalter is curious how Wilson will respond to that environment. The Orioles are focused on 2015, of course, but they have 11 pending free agents and want to get a head start on evaluating certain players. Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris could leave after the season and Wilson has a chance to fill...

It is the most interesting and perhaps among the most important questions surrounding the Orioles - how will they reduce six starters to five to begin the 2015 season? It appeared we may have gotten a clue on Thursday when Kevin Gausman pitched in relief and manager Buck Showalter said he may be shortened up in upcoming spring training outings. Does that mean Gausman will start the year in the bullpen? Well, less than 24 hours after talking about Gausman pitching in shorter stints, Showalter...

VIERA, Fla. - On a windy day with storms all over Florida, Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann was able to bear down and deliver another solid performance in today's 1-1 tie with the Cardinals. The right-hander allowed just one run while scattering four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. "I felt good, felt strong," said Zimmermann. "Arm felt fine. It wasn't the ideal conditions to pitch in today, but I survived." "I didn't have very good control of anything. Moving...

VIERA, Fla. - First baseman Ryan Zimmerman left today's game after just two innings. "He's good," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He's played three in a row. He's fine. He dove for that ball, banged himself a little bit. But he's good. No worries." Zimmerman ended the first by diving to his left to make a spectacular stop on a sharply hit ground ball up the first base line by Cardinals left fielder Randal Grichuk. Zimmerman quickly jumped to his feet and flipped the ball to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Bud Norris threw 59 pitches today and headed to the indoor batting cage to continue, his day not done despite the heavy rain that forced the game's cancellation in the bottom of the fourth inning. "I think I did 20-25 more down in the cage to simulate another inning, a couple more hitters. Just wanted to make sure we got to the pitch count again," he said. "It's been an interesting camp for me, but I got my work in today. Threw a few more sliders. They were breaking pretty...

Notes on a couple of more players that low Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson has worked with in the past and at this year's early camp in Florida. A pair of workhorses from last season, Rafael Bautista and Wilmer Difo, have been able to show their talents in Viera again. Center fielder Bautista played in three spring training games with the Nationals and went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. The 22-year-old hit .290 in 134 games last season with 20 doubles, five triples, five...