LAKELAND, Fla. - On a day when he watched his mound staff get battered for 22 hits and 12 runs, Nationals manager Matt Williams got a dose of good pitching news. Right-hander Doug Fister, who has been sidelined since March 2 with inflammation in his pitching elbow, threw a bullpen session without any problems this morning in Viera. While the Nationals will wait to see how Fister feels tomorrow before plotting out next steps, this morning's bullpen represented a step in the right direction for...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles had enough pitching to play the 10th inning today, but the Twins were running short due to split-squad games. They also were playing the Rays in Port Charlotte. Former Orioles farmhand Brandon Waring homered off Orioles left-hander Troy Patton with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to account for the 2-2 tie. Patton walked the leadoff hitter and got a double play. Patton has pitched twice for the Orioles this spring and allowed two home runs in two...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Tigers 12, Nationals 6 Recap: Detroit scored four runs in the third inning off starter Taylor Jordan and came back with five more in the fourth against reliever Luis Ayala, who got only two outs. Tyler Moore and Scott Hairston homered for the Nats. Need to know: Today's contest is the first of three games between the Nats and Tigers in a four-day span, one of those little Grapefruit League scheduling quirks. A trip to Jupiter tomorrow never looked so good. ...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 2, Twins 2 Recap: Wei-Yin Chen has turned in two straight impressive starts, holding the Twins to one run and three hits over four innings today. He threw 41 of his 61 pitches for strikes. Tommy Hunter replaced Chen and retired the Twins in order with a strikeout. T.J. McFarland tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Henry Urrutia hit his first spring home run to break a 1-1 tie. Urrutia, Steve Clevenger and Jonathan Schoop had two hits....

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning against Twins starter Mike Pelfrey, but they scored only once on Quintin Berry's sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field. Steve Clevenger led off with a single, making him 8-for-17 this spring. Nolan Reimold walked and Jonathan Schoop lined a single into left field, making him 10-for-21. Is that good? Reimold held up on a ground ball down the third base line, perhaps assuming it would go foul, and...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Joker Marchant Stadium is one of the Grapefruit League's gems. From its retro styling on the ediface to the variety of smells (from barbecue to burgers to grilled corn on the cob) permeating the concourse to the ever-present olde English D-clad fans, the place just oozes baseball. The fans are some of the most knowledgeable around, too, and right now, they're none too pleased after watching Miguel Cabrera - yes, the former Triple Crown winner and one of the game's greatest...

Outfielder Destin Hood and shortstop Stephen Perez worked extremely hard in the offseason to prepare for this upcoming campaign and it is showing so far in spring training. The soon-to-be 24-year-old Hood is listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 lbs., and is from Mobile, Ala. He has long been considered a top-10 prospect in the organization, but last season hit .224 as he battled through injuries and illness, with 116 strikeouts in 112 games while with Double-A Harrisburg. Nationals assistant general...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Alexi Casilla was scratched from today's lineup with a hyperextended left knee. Jonathan Schoop has replaced him at shortstop. Casilla had recently been cleared to play after being shut down with a right hamstring injury. He's 0-for-5 in three games. Manager Buck Showalter learned of Casilla's injury via a phone call from bench coach John Russell as he prepared to make the drive to Fort Myers. Matt Wieters' right ankle is still a little swollen, and he probably won't...

A team's effort to get closer looks at everyone in camp while also being extremely cautious with everyday regular season players makes spring training look abnormal when compared to the actual season. If you don't know what I mean, look at the Orioles this week. After rolling his ankle in a game Tuesday, Matt Wieters was immediately removed. However, he says he would have toughed it out if it was a regular season game. Miguel Gonzalez was also told to take it easy this week after being hit...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Right-hander Doug Fister, who has been sidelined since March 2 with inflammation in his pitching elbow, threw a bullpen session this morning in Viera, Fla., one day after feeling tightness in the affected arm following three consecutive days of throwing. Nationals manager Matt Williams was awaiting the arrival of pitching coach Steve McCatty with a report on Fister's progress, but continued to preach that the team wasn't as concerned with Fister missing a couple of spring...