HOUSTON - Matt Wieters is set to begin a throwing progression on Friday, when he's scheduled to pick up a ball and do some light tossing for the first time since going on the disabled list. Wieters hasn't caught since May 4 and hasn't played since May 10 due to a right elbow strain. "We've got a whole throwing program, but the trainers know it better than I can. If everything goes well, we're going to pick up a ball tomorrow," Wieters said. "Every movement that gets me back toward...

HOUSTON - Steve Pearce gets the start in left field tonight, as the Orioles begin a four-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. He'll bat second, while Manny Machado slides down to the seventh spot. Nelson Cruz is serving as the designated hitter, and Ryan Flaherty is starting at second base. David Lough is the only current Oriole who has faced Astros starter Brad Peacock, going 1-for-2 against him, but he's on the bench. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Steve Pearce LF Adam...

HOUSTON - Dylan Bundy threw three innings today at extended spring training. He will throw a bullpen session on Saturday and graduate to four innings next week. Bundy didn't allow a hit in his start against the Twins in Fort Myers. He walked three batters and struck out four. "I wasn't getting ahead in the count," he said. "I walked the first guy in each inning. That's not good at all. I've got to get my command and go after hitters. Get ahead in the count and get better...

The Orioles begin a four-game series in Houston tonight against the Astros, who are 22-32, in last place in the American League West and have the worst record in the AL. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Houston has started to score plenty of runs and win games. The Astros have won five in a row, outscoring their opponents 34-10 in that stretch. As my friend Mark Viviano pointed out via Twitter, while the Orioles are 6-11 in their last 17 games, Houston is 11-6. The O's took two of...

Nationals right-hander Blake Treinen could see work out of the bullpen in the next couple of games after his start was rained out Tuesday, according to manager Matt Williams. Treinen said he is happy with any arrangement, as long as he gets a shot at pitching. "I am here to help in any way I can," Treinen said. "If the game gets delayed, I will throw in my next opportunity and I will make the most of it." But on Wednesday, the Nationals used six relievers in their marathon 10-inning 8-5...

The Nationals announced today that Tuesday's postponed game against the Marlins has been rescheduled for Sept. 26. The game will be played at 1:05 p.m. as part of a split doubleheader. Fans with tickets to the originally scheduled game against Miami on May 27 may use their original tickets on Sept. 26 for the 1:05 p.m. game, or they can exchange them for any 2014 regular season "regular" or "value" game. Because of the postponement on Tuesday, the Nats and Marlins will now be playing...

While the Orioles have been playing games and their minor league affiliates have been doing the same, games have also been played by O's young players under the hot Florida sun. We don't see any standings or stats from these games - they are not kept or reported, at least publicly. But important learning and development has been going on at the Orioles extended spring training program. The players face teams from other organizations in games and also play simulated games to get needed reps...

The May 27 Nationals-Marlins game at Nationals Park has been rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Friday, September 26, with the make-up game beginning at 1:05 p.m. All gates for the second regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game on September 26 will open 1.5 hours after the last out of the 1:05 p.m. game or 6:00 p.m., whichever is later.* The two games against the Marlins on September 26 will require separate admission. Fans with game tickets to the May 27 postponed contest may use their...

HOUSTON - While Orioles manager Buck Showalter writes out tonight's lineup for the series opener against the Astros, he must consider whether to insert Steve Pearce as the designated hitter or use Nelson Cruz in that role and play David Lough in left field. As I wrote this morning, right-handers are batting .201 against Houston starter Brad Peacock in his major league career, compared to a .270 average for left-handers. However, Pearce is 17-for-50 against right-handers this season, posting a...

Let's quickly bounce through a few topics on the morning of the Nationals' much-needed off-day. First, if you didn't happen to see my report on last night's "Nats Xtra" pregame show about left-handed prospect Matt Purke needing Tommy John and the rash of elbow injuries that we've seen in the game recently, check it out. The number of Tommy John surgeries that have already been needed this season is staggering, and unfortunately for teams (and for the game as a whole, really), it...