SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Brian Matusz had a cortisone injection in his right shoulder on Monday to alleviate the discomfort caused by a strained AC joint. The concern is minimal because it's Matusz's non-throwing arm. However, the pain was affecting his ability to work out. Matusz said the strain occurred about six weeks ago while he was bench pressing as part of his offseason conditioning program. "It's something that hasn't affected anything on the baseball field, but in the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alejandro De Aza is leading off and playing right field today for the Orioles in their home exhibition opener against the Tigers. Matt Wieters is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup. J.J. Hardy is batting second. Delmon Young is starting in left field. Caleb Joseph is behind the plate. Still no baby. For the Orioles Alejandro De Aza RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Chris Davis 1B Delmon Young LF Manny Machado 3B Ryan Flaherty 2B Caleb Joseph...

VIERA, Fla. - Rick Ankiel returned to the field with the Nationals on Tuesday - not as a player, but as the minor league life skills coordinator, a new position created within the organization. By the time Ankiel reached the Nationals in 2011, he had already made one of the most resilient comebacks in baseball in the last 50 years. Ankiel made his debut in the majors at 20 and started Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the St. Louis Cardinals. That's when it all fell apart for...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter admitted yesterday that he was scrambling for ways to sound positive about his team's performance in its exhibition opener. Shovel in hand, he kept digging through the rubble of a 15-2 loss to the Tigers. "I'm sure Jonesy and those guys will have some choice words in the morning," Showalter said, anticipating the barbs coming from Adam Jones and other veterans who stayed back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Henry Urrutia, who's been working...

The Orioles have a group of 72 pitchers and 14 catchers scheduled to report to their minor league spring training camp at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park on Friday, March 6. They will be joined by 40 infielders and 26 outfielders due to report on March 10. That group of 152 players is due to begin minor league exhibition games on March 18, and that schedule will run through April 4. Keep in mind this group will grow in numbers as the Orioles make cuts from major league camp...

VIERA, Fla. - Since Max Scherzer joined the star-studded Nationals rotation, many have argued with friends over adult beverages, or with sports talk show hosts, as to which pitcher should start on opening day. Some have even skipped the looming 162-game schedule and jumped to Game 1 of the National League Division Series in October. October? Can we get some sun first? "I think there's worse problems to have in the world than deciding who's going to pitch Game 1," Scherzer told ESPN on...

Once a high draft pick of the Orioles, right-hander Pedro Beato has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the club, pending a physical. The deal does not include an invitation to major league spring camp. The 28-year-old Beato, who has pitched in the majors with the Mets, Red Sox and Braves, was the 32nd overall selection by the Orioles in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He spent four seasons pitching in the O's organization from 2006-10. After he went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in 43...

Next, we look at some of the infield prospects on the Nationals early camp roster. The minor leaguers' first game is March 12 at Houston. Nationals coordinator of instruction Gary Cathcart, who also is the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays manager, had several of these players on his team last season and provides a preview. For more on the outfielders, click here. Part Two: Infielders 1B Jose Marmolejos Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 185 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Left Age: 22 Born: Santo...

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the ninth inning today, but the Tigers proved that some leads are safe for their bullpen. Julio Borbon's RBI double scored Drew Dosch, who reached on an infield hit, and Henry Urrutia had a run-scoring single in the Orioles' 15-2 loss at Joker Marchant Stadium. Michael Almanzar was picked off first base by catcher James McCann before Dosch reached. Not the impression you want to leave with your manager. Showalter didn't sound concerned about...

The Orioles today announced that Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. will visit Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday, March 5 for the Orioles' 7:05 p.m. game against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and sign copies of his new children's book, Out At Home, on the lower concourse beginning at 8:00 p.m. The visit is part of a national book tour for Out At Home, the fifth installment in the New York Times best-selling "Cal Ripken, Jr.'s All-Stars" series. Ripken...