SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty underwent a SCAT3 test, per standard procedure, after being hit on the batting helmet today by a Brian Duensing pitch in the sixth inning. Flaherty will be reevaluated in the morning. Flaherty left the complex after telling teammates that he was fine. One player said the ball hit Flaherty on the back of the helmet. Orioles manager Buck Showalter removed Flaherty from the travel roster for Wednesday's game against the Twins in Fort Myers. "I...

SARASOTA, Fla. - There were no steal attempts and it was not a very eventful day for Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. But his comeback from Tommy John surgery took a significant step today when he caught six innings in the Orioles' 10-9 loss to Minnesota at Ed Smith Stadium. This was not a B or intrasquad game and he was in live game action against another big league opponent for the first time since last May, making his Grapefruit League debut. Before the game, he said the sellout crowd warmly...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Tigers 4 Recap: Tony Gwynn Jr. and Kila Ka'aihue homered off Tigers starter Justin Verlander who gave up four runs on five hits. Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg shut out the Tigers in his four frames, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts. Nats reliever Jerry Blevins had a rough outing, allowing a three-run homer to Tigers left fielder Tyler Collins in the eighth. Need to know: Bryce Harper was 0-for-3 with with two strikeouts and is now hitting...

SARASOTA, Fla. - So far for Orioles starter Bud Norris, he is increasing his innings total each start and working on his pitches. But he has not gotten solid results yet during spring training. Norris gave up five hits and three runs over four innings today. He walked one, fanned one and allowed two homers against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. A brisk wind to left-center may have aided one or both Twins home runs. He has pitched 7 2/3 innings over three starts, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs,...

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...