LAKELAND, Fla. - Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg returned to the mound this morning two days after he sprained his left ankle in conditioning drills. "He threw a light bullpen today so all is well there," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "He'll probably do that again before he gets back on the mound in a spring training game. He's gonna be just fine. No issues." Williams expects Strasburg to make two more Grapefruit League starts before opening day. The Nationals have been...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is scheduled to undergo a CT scan on his right ankle after an X-ray yesterday came back clean. Harvey was hit by a comebacker during a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Manager Buck Showalter said he was told Harvey is walking around today as if nothing happened. The Orioles don't seem concerned about it. "That's where you're just checking for hairlines, making sure nothing's there," Showalter said. Jason Garcia,...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Highly-ranked prospect A.J. Cole makes his second start of the spring in place of Stephen Strasburg who sprained his left ankle on Thursday in conditioning drills. Cole has given up three solo home runs along with five other hits as well as two strikeouts and two walks in seven innings this exhibition season. Right-hander Tanner Roark will look to build on his solid performance from Thursday when he pitches two innings after Cole today. First baseman Mike Carp continues to...

VIERA, Fla. - I guess you could say this spring training's theme for Danny Espinosa has been "new beginnings." Yesterday, Nationals manager Matt Williams penciled him in for his first start ever at third base. By ever, I mean ever. Like none in high school, not even little league. In fact, Espinosa's two innings played at third base in the ninth and 10th innings of Thursday's 0-0 tie with the Tigers were his first game action at the position in his life. "He's an athlete," Williams...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza returns to the Orioles' lineup as the leadoff hitter and right fielder for today's game against the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate. The lineup card lists Zach Britton, T.J. McFarland, Ryan Webb and Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett in the bullpen, though they pitched yesterday in Fort Myers. Verrett recorded the save in a 5-3 win over the Twins. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza RF Manny Machado 3B Chris Davis 1B Adam...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Several young pitchers from the Orioles minor leagues have done well in major league camp this spring. But only Tyler Wilson has posted eight scoreless innings in O's exhibition games. A 10th-round draft pick in 2011 out of the University of Virginia, Wilson has pitched in four games working two scoreless innings each against the Rays, Phillies, Blue Jays and Twins. "I feel good and healthy which is the most important thing," Wilson said. "Right now just trying to work on...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will attempt to win their fifth game in a row today when they play the Cardinals at Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles totaled 11 runs during a five-game losing streak. They've scored 50 while winning five of their last six. Their only loss in that stretch was 10-9 to the Twins. It looks like the offense is catching up to the pitching. Bud Norris makes his fourth start of the spring. He's surrendered 10 runs and 13 hits over 7 2/3 innings, with five walks and four...

VIERA, Fla. - Both starting pitchers created a couple of intense moments during the Nationals' 4-2 win over the Marlins. It all started in the second inning, when Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann stepped in the box for his first spring at-bat with runners on first and third and nobody out. The first pitch from Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez came up and in, grazing Zimmermann on the left elbow as he attempted to back away. Zimmermann stood there for a couple of seconds before slowly...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles received good news today on pitching prospect Hunter Harvey. An X-ray taken on Harvey's right ankle came back clean. He didn't sustain a fracture after being hit by a comebacker during a minor league game against the Twins in Fort Myers. Harvey would have gone two innings for Single-A Frederick, but he was forced to leave the game. A team official said Harvey will see a doctor Sunday morning as part of a follow-up examination. Earlier today, director of player...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles pitching prospect Hunter Harvey is having precautionary X-rays taken on his shin after being hit by a comebacker today in a minor league game in Fort Myers. The Orioles ran their winning streak to four games today with a 5-3 win over a Twins split-squad. Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett earned the save by stranding a runner at second base in the ninth. Verrett has allowed two runs in 10 innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. Here's a sampling of manager Buck...