MIAMI - The Nationals get their first crack at Marlins ace Jose Fernandez this season when the two teams wrap up their three-game set tonight. Fernandez, the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year, went 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Nats last year. He held Washington to one run on five hits and five walks while striking out 13 in 13 innings. Tonight, the Nats have Tanner Roark on the mound and Jose Lobaton back behind the plate after Sandy Leon started four of the last six...

Miguel Gonzalez didn't have a clean inning today. He also didn't give up a run. Gonzalez allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six over five scoreless innings for the Orioles, who continue to lead the Rays 3-0 at Camden Yards. He came out of the game only because of his pitch count, which stood at 98. That's what happens when the opponent puts a runner on base in each inning. Gonzalez has allowed three runs over 11 innings in his last two starts after surrendering seven runs and...

Orioles right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, working on six days rest this afternoon and braving a game-time temperature of 39 degrees, has tossed three scoreless innings against the Rays. Gonzalez has stranded a runner in each inning while allowing one hit, walking two and striking out three. He's thrown 63 pitches, 40 for strikes. Nick Markakis has the only hit for the Orioles in three innings, a leadoff single in the first. Rays starter Jake Odorizzi has retired nine in a row. Manager Buck...

MIAMI - OK, so last night's 11-2 loss wasn't exactly the most enjoyable three hours for Nationals fans, players or coaches, but there were two moments last night that brought a smile to my face sitting next to the Nats' dugout. In the sixth inning, with the Nats down 11 runs, Steven Souza Jr. came into the ballgame, replacing Jayson Werth in right. Two innings later, Souza stepped into the batter's box at Marlins Park, took a first-pitch slider for ball one, and then scorched a 92 mph...

Adam Jones no longer is listed as the Orioles' center fielder today. Manager Buck Showalter switched Jones to designated hitter, put David Lough in center and moved Nelson Cruz to left. Jones ran in the outfield earlier to gauge how much he's recovered from his virus. Jones, of course, wanted to play in center. "I want him to run around and see if he fatigues or anything," Showalter said earlier today. "He doesn't want to hear it." Jones wasn't in yesterday's lineup and had been...

The Orioles drafted outfielder Trent Mummey in the fourth round out of Auburn University in 2010. He had some solid early success in pro ball, making the New York Penn League All-Star team in 2010 and a year later hitting close to .300 at two levels. But during that 2011 season Mummey suffered a concussion and, four games after he returned from that, he injured his right hamstring. The hamstring issue, especially, lingered for parts of the next two seasons and this week Mummey's time with the...

The grounds crew at Camden Yards scraped the ice off the tarp and the infield this morning. The sun is shining and we're starting on time. Adam Jones will patrol center field today for the Orioles. He's feeling better after yesterday's bout with the virus that's sweeping through the clubhouse. Reliever Evan Meek also is in the clubhouse. He's a little better, but clearly not 100 percent. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF Nelson Cruz DH Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C...

Shortstop Ron Hansen hit 22 home runs for the Orioles' first winning team in 1960, but if they had gone to the World Series, he wasn't sure that he could have played. That's because his military job begin a few days after the season ended. "I guess I would have missed the World Series," Hansen says. "I didn't think much it (during the season's final days), but not playing would have been a possibility. We didn't make the World Series, so there's nothing to worry about." The 1962...

Remember during draft time when all the naysayers complained about Anthony Rendon and his ability to stay healthy? I do too, and I asked a professional who was there. He recollected what the apprehension was for Rendon when the Nationals selected him in 2011. Jim Callis was the executive editor for Baseball America back then. He is now the senior writer for MLBpipeline.com "He had two right ankle injuries I thought were fluky in college and thought he was the best guy in that 2011 draft,"...

MIAMI - There have been very few times early in Matt Williams' managerial career when we've seen or heard him legitimately frustrated about something. Last night, after watching his team drop a ballgame 11-2 to the Marlins, Williams sure sounded frustrated when discussing the Nationals' defensive play to begin the season. The Nats made two more errors last night, giving them 15 errors through 14 games this season, the most in the majors. Williams' team also has the major leagues' worst...