The Orioles today released their 2015 promotional schedule highlighted by several new items, including Kids' Opening Day, a Buck Showalter garden gnome, a J.J. Hardy replica jersey, and an Orioles hooded sweatshirt, along with several returning fan favorites. Opening Weekend of the 2015 season will be filled with promotions, starting with an Orioles Schedule Fathead® Decal, presented by Pizza Boli's, given to all fans at the club's home opener on Friday, April 10 vs. the Blue Jays. The...

JUPITER, Fla. - Right-hander Max Scherzer gets his second start of the exhibition season today against the Miami Marlins. He's expected to pitch three innings or around 55 pitches, according to Nationals manager Matt Williams. Jose Lobaton will get his first chance of the spring to work with Scherzer behind the plate. Danny Espinosa starts at shortstop today and should get more opportunities to familiarize himself with batting from the right side against right-handed pitching with former...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As Matt Wieters keeps progressing toward his first exhibition start behind the plate, he continues to push thoughts of free agency out of his mind. Wieters said there have been no extension talks between the Orioles and agent Scott Boras, which shouldn't be viewed as a revelation of any sort. It seems a foregone conclusion in the industry, and certainly within the organization, that Wieters will test the market following the season. "That's the thing is, you never know,"...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manny Machado is leading off today and Ryan Lavarnway is behind the plate for the Orioles in their game against the Yankees. Travis Snider is in left field and Delmon Young is in right. Matt Wieters remains the designated hitter. The bullpen behind starter Wei-Yin Chen includes Kevin Gausman, Jason Garcia, Tommy Hunter, Steve Johnson, Logan Verrett and Chaz Roe. For the Orioles Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Delmon Young RF Travis...

VIERA, Fla. - Dealing with injuries is nothing new for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. He was left scrambling throughout last season as the middle of his club's lineup formed a line to the disabled list. Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman all missed more than 50 games in 2014. Now, barely a week into the Grapefruit League season, Rizzo faces the predicament of replacing Denard Span, the team's offensive catalyst and best defensive outfielder. "He's a huge part of our...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will try to locate their offense this afternoon when the Yankees visit Ed Smith Stadium. One run in the last two games won't bring many wins. How's that for morning analysis? Don't slip into a panic. The pitchers usually are ahead of the hitters at this stage, and the Orioles aren't sending out their A lineup in every game. Matt Wieters went 0-for-3 with a walk yesterday and is hitless in 13 at-bats. The good news? He's already got 13 at-bats under his belt and...

New year, same rotation. For the Orioles, the same five starters that begin 2015 with the club will very likely be the same five that ended 2014 there - unless Ubaldo Jimenez works his way into the top five. Either way, the rotation returns basically intact. No new additions. No trades were needed to try to improve the starting five. That is a good thing. Of all aspects of play the Orioles would like to duplicate from last year, the rotation's performance would rank high on the list. The...

VIERA, Fla. - It was a brief but successful first exhibition outing for Gio Gonzalez. The left-hander threw just 19 pitches, 15 for strikes, in two scoreless frames against the Braves. Gonzalez gave up just one hit, a double, and also recorded a strikeout. "It felt great," Gonzalez said. "My arm felt fantastic, strong. Shoulder felt great. I wasn't thinking about pitch count or anything like that. It was just go out there and try to attack the strike zone." Gonzalez is coming off a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have scored one run in their last two games, losing 1-0 to the Phillies today at Ed Smith Stadium. Manager Buck Showalter was impressed again with his pitching. Brian Matusz allowed the only run on Andres Blanco's homer in the fifth. Matusz threw two scoreless innings before coming back out. Chris Tillman and Tyler Wilson each registered two scoreless innings. Darren O'Day retired the Phillies in order in the ninth. "Tyler was really good again," Showalter...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Ryan Webb had an MRI on his left knee today that didn't reveal any structural damage. He's got some swelling and is day-to-day. Webb was told that he had an allergic reaction to the ice, which caused swelling in the knee. Lesson learned. The discomfort surfaced yesterday while Webb was throwing on flat ground. "I was just playing catch and it kind of came up feeling a little funny for a second," he said. "I was shaking it out and finished playing catch, finished...