DUNEDIN, Fla. - With the threat of heavy rain tomorrow in parts of Florida, the Orioles are changing some of their scheduled pitching plans for Monday. Ubaldo Jimenez was scheduled to make his third O's spring start Monday night in Sarasota against the Twins. But with the chance of a rainout of both of the O's split-squad games on Monday, Jimenez will be sent to a more southern part of the state to try and get his outing in. Jimenez will pitch in the Orioles' Triple-A game at 11 a.m....

VIERA, Fla. - Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took early grounders this morning and declared himself fit enough to play the field in the home half of a pair of split-squad games this afternoon. That one, against Justin Verlander and the Tigers, airs on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m.; the other game is in Kissimmee against the Astros at the same time. Zimmerman will hit fifth and man third base. "Everything feels good," said Zimmerman, whose appearance as a designated hitter yesterday was his...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A frustrating spring continues for infielder Alexi Casilla. Casilla is sitting at his locker instead of making the trip to Dunedin for today's game against the Blue Jays. He's been scratched from the Orioles lineup because of swelling in his left knee. "They pushed me off the bus," Casilla said. A rare moment of levity from a player who is irritated to be left behind today. Casilla was supposed to start at shortstop, but Jonathan Schoop will take his place. He was...

SARASOTA, Fla - The Orioles and slugging first baseman Chris Davis, still have yet to get too far in any talks of a new contract for the player who led the majors in homers, RBIs and extra-base hits in 2013. Davis said this morning there is not much happening on that front right now. "Not that I know of and you guys are pretty good about finding things out," Davis said. "I'm sure if anything is said, we'll be talking about it, but those are for Scott (Boras) and Dan (Duquette). I have...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis has an ice pack on his left shoulder this morning, the standard treatment for tendinitis. However, Markakis said he will start in right field for the Orioles Monday afternoon in Clearwater in a split-squad game against the Phillies. "Just a little spring training arm soreness," said Markakis, who served as the designated hitter yesterday. "Nothing too alarming. It's been pretty much back to normal the past couple days, so it's been good." Markakis, who's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter wasn't kidding. He's taking Adam Jones to Dunedin for today's game against the Blue Jays. Jones is starting in center field. Alexi Casilla is the shortstop after being scratched from Friday's lineup with a hyper-extended left knee, and Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar moves across the diamond to first base. For the Orioles Jemile Weeks 2B Alexi Casilla SS Henry Urrutia RF Adam Jones CF Steve Clevenger C Nolan Reimold DH Ryan Flaherty 3B Michael...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are making their only trip to Dunedin today to play the Blue Jays. Miguel Gonzalez gets the start. Other Orioles scheduled to pitch include Alfredo Aceves, Steve Johnson and Brad Brach. Gonzalez limped to his locker yesterday morning with a huge ice pack wrapped around his lower left leg. Reporters drifted over to his locker to make sure that Gonzalez hadn't re-injured his shin after being drilled by a line drive. Nope. Gonzalez had gotten his daily treatment...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The scoop on Jonathan Schoop is this: At the very least the kid is making a very favorable and strong impression at camp. And it just might lead to him making the Orioles' opening day roster. Schoop entered camp considered a long-shot to win the job as the O's starting second baseman. But now, after coming to Sarasota a clearly bigger, stronger and better player than last year, he's made a strong case to head north with the Orioles for the opener. Schoop's cause may be...

JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams' postgame comments after a 2-1 victory over the Marlins were short and sweet. But that's what you get when two staff aces face off and the game takes only 2:45, which is pretty quick by spring training standards. Did Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg look like he was in midseason form? "He was good. It was a good matchup today. ... Those two guys going at it. We were able to scratch one and give him a little bit of room. Pitched well -...

JUPITER, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg feels great, and says his mechanics are just about "locked in." Ryan Zimmerman is feeling better, but the Nationals third baseman isn't so sure about manager Matt Williams' proclamation that he'll be ready to play the field Sunday. Those contrasting diagnoses were the takeaways from the Nats' 2-1 win over the Marlins this afternoon. Strasburg threw four scoreless innings - matching Jordan Zimmermann for the longest outing by a Nationals pitcher this...