VIERA, Fla. - Notes from Nationals camp and other teams that train in Florida: * Nats outfielder Denard Span said that part of the reason he hit well in the final weeks of last season was because he stopped taking on-field batting practice before games, focusing on hitting from the tee and in the cage. "When I was on the field, my swing got long," Span said. This spring, he'll return to BP on the field and then adjust as needed. * The Tigers put out a release saying that Max Scherzer, the...

VIERA, Fla. - We head back to Jupiter for the second time in four days today, as the Nationals will take on the Marlins for the final time this spring. We're getting a lot of drives down I-95 over the final week of spring games, with three trips to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter and two to Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. My rental car is getting worked pretty good of late. Taylor Jordan starts for the Nats today, and I believe reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez will...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz is back on the bump today, making his fourth Grapefruit League appearance in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. He most recently tossed five innings in a minor league game. Jake Peavy is starting for the Red Sox, who also are bringing former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill. Manny Machado will find more reporters gathered at his locker this morning, seeking his reaction to the Orioles' decision to place him on the 15-day...

The 2014 season will be interesting for catchers around Major League Baseball due to the new experimental rule involving home plate collisions. This MLB.com story outlines the highlights of experimental rule 7.13: * A runner may not run out of a direct line to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher, or any player, covering the plate. If he does, the umpire can call him out even if the player taking the throw loses possession of the ball. * The catcher may not block the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made two expected roster moves this afternoon, optioning infielder David Adams to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning catcher Caleb Joseph to minor league camp. Adams was on the major league roster after being claimed off waivers last night from the Indians, but he had no shot at making the 25-man roster on opening day. Showalter indicated during batting practice that Adams was headed to Twin Lakes Park. Adams was flying into Florida today. Showalter told reporters...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Tanner Roark made his final case for either the last spot in the Nationals rotation or the last spot in their bullpen today, allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings in a 3-1 loss to the Mets. Roark struck out five and walked one today, and will finish his spring with the following line: 13 2/3 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 11 Ks. With Roark's spring complete, manager Matt Williams will get his final look at Taylor Jordan tomorrow, and then will decide which of the two...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned infielder David Adams to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned catcher Caleb Joseph to minor league camp. With the moves, the Orioles now have 41 players at major league spring training, including seven non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will begin the 2014 season on the 15-day disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter made the announcement following today's 7-7 tie with the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Showalter said Machado being on the active roster on opening day is "not realistic." Machado underwent surgery on his left knee in October. He was cleared to start running again yesterday after being bothered by a mild strain in his left calf and having scar tissue break up...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 7, Pirates 7 (10) Recap: The Pirates scored four runs off Steve Johnson in the sixth to erase the Orioles' 3-1 lead, but Ryan Flaherty hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning and Delmon Young broke the tie with an RBI single in the seventh. Zach Britton gave up the tying run in the eighth, with Jonathan Schoop committing an error. Britton walked off the mound with head athletic trainer Richie Bancells after striking out Starling Marte, but he seemed...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Mets 3, Nationals 1 Recap: Tanner Roark looked good in his 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run. Drew Storen allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning. The Nats' only run came in the first on a Ryan Zimmerman infield single. Need to know: Roark further showed that he's deserving of a spot on the roster with another solid outing. It's tough to see him getting left off the 25-man at this point. On deck: Monday, at Marlins in Jupiter, 1:05 p.m. PORT ST....