The Orioles today announced that they have optioned right-hander Oliver Drake to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned infielder Michael Almanzar, right-hander Dane De La Rosa, left-hander Chris Jones, and catcher Brian Ward to minor league camp. With these moves, the Orioles now have 52 players at Major League Spring Training, including 12 non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Ryan Webb injured his left knee during yesterday's workout and is unavailable to pitch. Webb woke up with swelling in the knee and could undergo X-rays later in the day. "He's not real sure how or when he did it, but he's got swelling. He's going to be down for a while," said manager Buck Showalter. "He'll probably get some pictures on it and see what we've got. They're waiting for one of the doctors to look at it first, but he's got a little swelling...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are experiencing their first bout with adversity this spring after center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery this morning to repair a right core muscle injury. Manager Matt Williams expects Span to be sidelined for four to six weeks before he can resume any baseball activity. Span first felt the injury coming into spring training, according to Williams. "He thought that it would work itself out," Williams said. "But once he ramped it up in the first game and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Caleb Joseph walked through the Orioles clubhouse this morning around 8:30 a.m., a smile stretching across his face as teammates hugged and fist-bumped the newest father on the team. Joseph's wife, Brooke, gave birth to the couple's first child Saturday evening. He didn't make the trip to Fort Myers yesterday, but now it's time to get back to work. The incentive to make the team out of spring training has grown. "Baby's gotta eat," Joseph said. "That's just another...

VIERA, Fla. - While we wait for Nationals manager Matt Williams to address Denard Span's surgery today to repair a right core injury, here are today's lineups for the Braves and Nationals. You can watch today's game at 1 p.m. on MASN HD. Tony Gwynn Jr. gets the start in center field, Dan Uggla is the designated hitter against his former team and Bryce Harper is hitting cleanup. For the Braves CF Eric Young Jr.2B Jose Peraza3B Alberto CallaspoLF Jonny GomesC Christian Bethancourt1B Kelly...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery this morning to repair a right core muscle injury. Manager Matt Williams will provide an update on Span's recovery timetable later this morning in his pregame meeting with the media. There's no word yet on how the injury occurred. Span is coming off hernia surgery in December. He showed up in Viera a few days early and hasn't been limited early in spring training. "I feel pretty good," Span said while celebrating his...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is starting in right field today for the Orioles in their game against the Phillies. Steve Pearce is starting at first base. Catcher Caleb Joseph is listed among the reserves. Steve Clevenger gets the start behind the plate. Update: Joseph has just arrived in the clubhouse. Alejandro De Aza is batting first and Everth Cabrera is ninth. The bullpen includes Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day, Steve Johnson and Tyler Wilson. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza...

VIERA, Fla. - Gio Gonzalez gets his first chance of the Grapefruit League season when he starts today against the Atlanta Braves at Space Coast Stadium in a 1 p.m. game that will be aired live on MASN HD. He's the last of the big five in the star-studded Nationals rotation, but maybe the least celebrated heading into this season. Yet, of the other four Nats starters, Max Scherzer is the only one other than Gonzalez to reach 20 wins in a season. Scherzer finished with 21 wins in 2013 en route...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the first of three straight home games today, baseball's way of easing them into that killer Jupiter-Dunedin trip later in the week. Who comes up with this schedule? Chris Tillman makes his first start, earning a little extra rest at the beginning due to the Orioles' deep run in the playoffs. The Phillies are starting Aaron Harang. I'm asked daily whether the game is airing on MASN. The next one is Tuesday against the Yankees. Here's the rest of the...

Former Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail said often that pitching is expensive and fragile. Thus, it was better to "grow the arms," producing as many young, homegrown pitchers as the organization could. No doubt that every year, the health of pitchers seems to factor into the pennant race. The loss of a key starter hurts one team, while another staff that is fortunate to stay healthy can thrive. The latest example came Sunday when we learned that Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Smyly has left...