SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala took his physical today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. However, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the minor league deal is "still in process" and the club won't announce it until Saturday at the earliest. As I wrote earlier, Ayala will report to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park if he passes the physical. Tommy Hunter pitched an inning today in a Triple-A game at Twin Lakes Park. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti watched Hunter before...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 8, Braves 0 Recap: Miguel Gonzalez filled in for Chris Tillman today and looked like an ace, tossing six scoreless innings with three hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts. He's the first Orioles pitcher to complete six innings this spring. Chris Davis' sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first and produced his team-leading 10th RBI. Braves starter Gus Schlosser retired 12 in a row after David Lough's leadoff double in the first. Alex...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard, Blake Treinen and Xavier Cedeno combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Adam Wainwright, meanwhile, held a Nats lineup filled with reserves and minor leaguers scoreless over eight strong frames. Need to know: Gonzalez didn't have his good stuff today, but he still got his work in. Stammen and Clippard looked sharp. On deck: Saturday,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough had a leadoff double in the first inning today for the Orioles. That's their only hit. Braves right-hander Gus Schlosser, making only his second spring start, retired 12 Orioles in a row. But he's losing 1-0 because Miguel Gonzalez is keeping Atlanta off the board. Some serious dealing going on here in Sarasota. Gonzalez is proving to be a good substitute. He replaced Chris Tillman as today's starter and has faced one batter over the minimum through five...

JUPITER, Fla. - Throughout spring training, the Nationals have been operating as if Anthony Rendon will be their starting second baseman. Rendon got the bulk of the reps at second base early in spring, while Danny Espinosa was often fielding grounders at short, working behind Ian Desmond. This will be Espinosa's 15th game played this spring, and in those 15, he's started at shortstop seven times (including today), second base six times, DH once and came off the bench to play short once....

Minor league camp continues to roll along with decisions coming up very soon on final rosters of Nationals affiliates. The week of March 31-April 5 will be the timeframe that rosters will be finalized and announced. Here is a quick look at how some of the prospects are faring as camp winds down with updates courtesy of new Single-A Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson. Last season, Anderson guided the Rookie level Gulf Coast Nationals to an unprecedented 52-9 record and the GCL...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Third baseman Manny Machado flew back into Sarasota late last night and has been excused from camp this morning. Machado no longer has any physical restrictions after Dr. Neal ElAttrache re-examined his left knee yesterday in Los Angeles. However, the Orioles still haven't provided a firm date for his spring debut. "I have to talk to the ESPN people to find out what the next step is," manager Buck Showalter quipped. Reliever Luis Ayala is taking the rest of his physical...

The Orioles today announced dates for two "Operation Orange" rallies to generate fan excitement as the team prepares to open the 2014 season. The rallies will include ticket giveaways, trivia and raffles for Orioles-themed gear and other promotional items. The first "Operation Orange" rally will be held at Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant on Wednesday, March 26 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Operation Orange rally crew, the Oriole Bird, Orioles PA Announcer Ryan Wagner and former Orioles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Alex Gonzalez is back in the Orioles' lineup today as the third baseman, and he intends to get as many at-bats as possible while competing for a utility job. Gonzalez was shut down briefly and underwent an endoscopy after his pre-spring training physical revealed something in his blood work that drew the concerns of the Orioles' medical staff. Gonzalez, a 15-year major league veteran, discovered that he's anemic and is taking iron pills. "Everything's fine,"...

JUPITER, Fla. - After getting quite a pitching matchup yesterday in Viera between Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, we'll get another stellar couple of starters taking the mound today here in Jupiter. Gio Gonzalez will get the ball for the Nationals, and Adam Wainwright will make his fourth start of spring for the Cardinals. Gonzalez seemed to make every single one of his spring starts last year here in Jupiter, which became a running joke among reporters and the left-hander. So here he...