The Orioles' four full-season minor league affiliates open new seasons tonight. Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie open at home while Single-A Frederick and Single-A Delmarva begin with road openers. * The Norfolk Tides open against Charlotte at Harbor Park. The Tides will play their first eight games at home. Norfolk lost on the final day of the 2013 regular season to miss out on its first playoff berth since 2005. Tides manager Ron Johnson is the first skipper to lead Norfolk to...

NEW YORK - The Nationals will field a slightly different lineup again as they look to sweep the Mets to start the season. For today's day game after a night game, catcher Sandy Leon and second baseman Danny Espinosa get their first starts of the season with Jose Lobaton and Anthony Rendon starting the contest on the bench. Also, as was previously written here, Tanner Roark will be starting in Jordan Zimmermann's place for the series finale. For the Nationals CF Denard Span LF Bryce...

NEW YORK - The Nationals announced this morning that right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has been scratched from his scheduled start today with flu-like symptoms. Tanner Roark, who had been set to start the Nats' home opener tomorrow, will now start today's series finale against the Mets. A chest cold has been working through the Nats clubhouse all spring, and Zimmermann is apparently the latest to catch a bit of it. Roark was scheduled to start the Nats' exhibition game against the Tigers...

Manager: Fredi Gonzalez, fourth year Record: 2-1 Last 10 games: 2-1 Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.333/.500/1.000, 2 HR, 2 RBIs); RF Jason Heyward (.250/.308/.500, 1 HR, 2 RBIs); RHP Julio Teheran (1-0, 3.00 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (2 saves, 0.00 ERA) Season series vs. Nats (2013): 13-6, 73 runs scored, 49 runs allowed Pitching probables April 4: David Hale vs. TBA, 1 p.m., MASN HD April 5: Julio Teheran vs. Stephen Strasburg, 7 p.m., MASN HD April 6: Alex Wood vs. Taylor Jordan, 1:30...

Every time Zach Britton took the mound this spring, a number of scouts from opposing teams eagerly watched the Orioles lefty work. The 27-year-old impressed over his 10 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League, allowing just two runs (one earned), scattering six hits, walking four and striking out 11. Britton is out of options, so if he didn't make the ballclub, he would have been a valuable trade candidate for any team seeking bullpen help. On opening day, we saw Britton do just that. It was...

NEW YORK - You know how all spring, I kept noting that spring training statistics don't mean anything? I'm sure you got tired of reading it. Heck, I got tired of writing it. But while it's certainly nice to see your team's players dominate during spring training and post impressive numbers, there is no guarantee whatsoever that those stats will carry into the games that actually matter. Take Drew Storen, for example. Storen made seven Grapefruit League appearances this spring, working 6...

Manager: Brad Ausmus, first year Record: 2-0 Last 10 games: 2-0 Who to watch: 1B Miguel Cabrera (.143/.250/.286, 0 HR, 0 RBIs); 2B Ian Kinsler (.333/.333/.667, 1 HR, 2 RBIs); CF Austin Jackson (.286/.375/.714, 2 XBHs); RHP Justin Verlander (0-0, 3.00 ERA) Season series vs. O's (2013): 2-4, 27 runs scored, 33 runs allowed Pitching probables April 4: Anibal Sanchez vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 1 p.m., MASN2 HD April 5: Rick Porcello vs. Bud Norris, 1 p.m., MASN HD April 6: Justin Verlander vs. Chris...

Well, is it too soon to worry? That is an easy one. Yes, it is way, way too early or to have any concerns about the 2014 Orioles. The Yankees have started 0-2 and Tampa Bay is 1-2. The Orioles can win another series against Boston with a victory tonight. If they win this game, they will have won 12 of their last 15 series against the Red Sox and they'll get their season off to a good start as they head for Detroit. Ubaldo Jimenez gave up a pair of homers to the middle of the Boston order...

The Orioles faced Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester on opening day and right-hander John Lackey last night. They're scheduled to face left-hander Felix Doubront tonight in the final game of the series. The lineup will keep changing. Nelson Cruz figures to start again in left field, as he did on Monday, with Delmon Young or Steve Pearce serving as the designated hitter. Jonathan Schoop most likely will start at second base in another duplication of the opening day lineup. Nick Markakis remains...

NEW YORK - Two Nationals hit home runs in tonight's 5-1 win. Ian Desmond was the first, which you would expect, because he's crushed 45 homers over the last two seasons. Gio Gonzalez was the second. And you would not expect that. Let's hear from tonight's two homer guys, shall we? Desmond On Bryce Harper's throw to the plate that cut down Ruben Tejada: "When the ball caromed off the tarp, it was kinda rolling towards him a little bit and he was running straight at it. I was just yelling,...