This Saturday, March 14, the Orioles will feature two activities exclusively for children, as well as a Plush Cow promotional giveaway when the Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium at 1:05 p.m. The first 3,000 fans through the gates on Saturday will receive a Plush Cow, presented by Chick-fil-A. Following the game, Schofield, Hand & Bright Orthopaedics will sponsor Kids Run the Bases, when all children ages 14 and under may run the bases like their favorite Major League...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Blue Jays 5, Orioles 3 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez pitched three scoreless innings and became the first Baltimore starter to pitch four innings this spring. But he allowed three runs on three hits in the second as the Orioles fell behind 3-2. He gave up an RBI single to Daric Barton and two-run double to former Oriole Chris Dickerson. Jimenez allowed five hits and three runs with no walks, one strikeout, a hit batter and two wild pitches. T.J. McFarland gave up two runs over...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Brian Matusz is making his first spring start on Saturday against the Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. He may have flashbacks to his rotation days. Matusz has allowed one run and three hits in 3 1/3 innings, with no walks and five strikeouts, over two relief appearances. Why is he starting? Manager Buck Showalter said he wanted to stretch out Matusz this spring so the lefty could work on his changeup. Fans keep asking me whether he's being showcased for a possible trade,...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Astros 6 Recap: Bryce Harper had a two-run double and Ryan Zimmerman added an RBI single as the Nats scored three times in the third inning. Kila Ka'aihue and Rafael Bautista both drove in runs to give the Nationals a 5-4 lead. Doug Fister pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. Astros outfielder George Springer took Fister deep for the first of his two home runs on the day. Ian Stewart hit...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez had a very strong first inning followed by a shaky second inning today against the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto scored three times on three hits in the second to take a 3-2 lead on the Orioles at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The O's had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Jimenez, who gave up seven runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings in his first two starts, made quick work of the Jays in the first. He retired Jose Reyes, Maicer Izturis and Russell...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said right-hander Ryan Webb is getting closer to pitching in a game and it could happen next week. The Orioles reliever has been recieving treatment on his left knee. "Webb threw today and felt a lot better. He's close to throwing a bullpen," Showalter said. Meanwhile, Paul Janish has been fully cleared for baseball activities and will probably get some at-bats at designated hitter on Saturday against the Puerto Rico development team and also in...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams announced this morning that catchers Pedro Severino and Spencer Kieboom have been reassigned to minor league camp. He said both weren't able to get enough at-bats and it was important to get them some work before their seasons began Severino, 21, batted .247 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs at Single-A Potomac last season. "He's a really good prospect," said Williams. "He's got a lot of tools. Certainly, the catching part of it, we saw a great...

The two newest pitchers acquired in trades in the offseason debuted for the Nationals in their early camp roster game against the Astros on Thursday. Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said that right-handed starter Joe Ross and right-hander Abel de los Santos "threw very well" and had "impressive first outings" yesterday in their organizational debuts. Nats director of player development Mark Scialabba also confirmed the pair "pounded the strike zone and were...

VIERA, Fla. - Kevin Frandsen starts at third base today after news that Anthony Rendon will be sidelined for at least a week with a mild strain of his left MCL. Rendon suffered the injury in the sixth inning of Monday's loss to the Braves. Frandsen is 3-for-10 so far this spring. Ryan Zimmerman has been swinging the bat well early in the exhibition season. He's 4-for-11 with two doubles and two RBIs while also looking sharp defensively at his hew first base position. Doug Fister makes his...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams said this morning that X-rays revealed that Anthony Rendon has a mild sprain of his media collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee. The injury occurred in the top of the sixth inning of Monday's game, when Rendon lunged to his left making a spectacular stop on a ground ball in the hole and then jumped to his feet, firing to first for the out. Rendon remained in the game and singled in the bottom half of the inning before leaving in the...