Will anyone here today be more excited than Jonathan Schoop? The kid found out he made the roster on Saturday in Norfolk and today he will start at second base on opening day for the Orioles. How is his excitement level right now? I asked him earlier in the clubhouse. "I cannot explain, but it's opening day and you've got to be excited. I love to play baseball. I dreamed for this moment. We'll see how it goes," said Schoop, who is batting ninth. "You have to have some nerves, but in a...

NEW YORK - Manager Matt Williams was the first to admit he was nervous and excited for opening day, his first as a major league manager and with the Nationals - so much so that he didn't sleep very well Sunday night. But he did appear relaxed in his red Nationals long-sleeve sweatshirt and athletic shorts, fresh-faced after completing a morning workout. How does day one feel now that it is here? "Good," Williams said from his office in the visiting clubhouse at Citi Field. "Nervous...

Nick Markakis will bat leadoff and play right field for today's Orioles opener against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Markakis made it through batting practice without experiencing any discomfort in his neck. Nelson Cruz starts in left field and Delmon Young is the designated hitter For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Tillman RHP

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams put out a somewhat surprising opening day lineup, placing Wilson Ramos in the cleanup spot with Denard Span, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth at the top of the order, and Bryce Harper hitting behind Ramos in the five-hole. Williams believes Zimmerman can showcase his immense talent from the second spot in the order. "We look at our lineup and we say, 'How do we get to the best lineup?' " Williams said. "Zim has the ability to do a lot of things...

The Orioles won't post their opening day lineup until right fielder Nick Markakis takes batting practice. Markakis' neck is feeling better and he's already stopped by manager Buck Showalter's office twice to campaign for the start, which would be his eighth in a row on opening day. Markakis tried to take batting practice yesterday, "but we caught him," Showalter said. Nelson Cruz will start in left field if Markakis can play. Otherwise, Cruz will move to right and David Lough will...

NEW YORK - Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to make a big splash to begin the 2014 campaign with a surprise in his lineup. Catcher Wilson Ramos will hit in the cleanup spot on opening day today against the Mets. It is a rare start at the cleanup spot for Ramos, only the seventh of his career in the majors, which spans 238 games. But he has had a lot of experience in the fourth spot while playing in his native Venezuela. "I feel excited right now," Ramos said. "Not the first time....

The Harrisburg Senators have released their 2014 opening day roster for manager Brian Daubach. Catcher Sandy Leon starts the season at Double-A, giving Jhonatan Solano a lot more at-bats at Triple-A. This also means Steven Souza Jr. will start season at Syracuse, as well. PITCHERS Alfaro, Gabriel Bates, Colin Cole, A.J. Gilliam, Rob Grace, Matt Herron, Tyler Holland, Neil Jackson, Zach Mirowski, Richie Perry, Ryan Purke, Matthew Rivero, Felipe Schwartz, Blake CATCHERS Canham, Mitch Leon,...

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis just told reporters he's not sure if he can play today. He'll find out before too long though, after he takes a few swings on the field. "I don't know, we'll find out after BP (batting practice) here. I feel a lot better," he said. "I've been here long enough to know which injuries I can baby and which injuries I need to take care of. This is one that is kind of in between. "But, you know, it gets better day by day. Today it feels great and I'll go...

NEW YORK - Hello from Citi Field, everyone. There was snow falling from the sky when I left my hotel early this morning - how's that for opening day weather? - and the tarp is on the field, but the forecast looks OK for later on today. Manager Matt Williams has posted his first regular season lineup as a big league manager, and it's got a couple of interesting twists. Ryan Zimmerman will bat second today against Mets right-hander Dillon Gee, Wilson Ramos will hit cleanup and Bryce Harper...

NEW YORK - The big day is finally here. Months of waiting, speculating about roster moves, sifting through minor league signings and watching players practice bunt plays - that's all behind us. Now we have actual, meaningful baseball. Hallelujah. This kind of feels like the first day of school, except not, because this is a little more fun. The Nationals open their 2014 season this afternoon (weather permitting) against the Mets, with Nats ace Stephen Strasburg squaring off against...