VIERA, Fla. - Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is here at Space Coast Stadium today, wearing a personalized No. 22 Nationals jersey. Flutie, who went to Boston College, also has shorts with a Red Sox logo on them, repping two organizations at once. I guess we can let that slide. Flutie took batting practice in the Nats' third hitting group today and spent some time talking to players and team staffers. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler actually has a pretty good swing and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to get under Orioles manager Buck Showalter's skin? Keep asking him for a timetable on Manny Machado debuting in exhibition games and the odds of the young third baseman being in the opening day lineup. He'd rather not go there. Showalter can't say with any certainty whether Machado will be playing in Grapefruit League games in a few weeks after having his knee reexamined in Los Angeles. He's not going to keep providing updates and gauge whether Machado is ahead of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the first roster cuts of spring training could be made today during lunch. Showalter indicated earlier in the week that he'd wait until after Saturday's split-squad games, but those plans have changed. Players on the 40-man roster for the first time, such as pitcher Tim Berry and catcher Michael Ohlman, can't be sent out before Monday. I prefer not to speculate on today's cuts, but first baseman Chris Marrero still can't work out...

VIERA, Fla. - Michael Gonzalez was one of the most popular players on the Nationals roster during his four months with the team in 2012. A gregarious presence and a veteran who is happy to show younger players the ropes, Gonzalez immediately meshed with his Nats teammates and had success in Washington, posting a 3.03 ERA in 47 games and serving as a key left-hander in the Nats bullpen. Now Gonzalez is back with the Nats after signing a minor league deal on Tuesday. He arrived in the...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Doug Fister, who was scheduled to start today's game against the Astros, has been scratched due to right elbow inflammation. Manager Matt Williams said that Fister will be evaluated in the coming days and have his throwing schedule pushed back, but that the team doesn't believe the injury is anything serious. With Fister sidelined, right-hander Tanner Roark will make today's start for the Nationals. "We had an MRI taken yesterday and it shows a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Aceves is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring today after the Orioles provide innings for Ubaldo Jimenez, Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez. Aceves' debut was delayed because he had to leave camp and obtain his work visa in Mexico. He retired all three batters he faced, with a strikeout. "Basically, every day I'm coming here to work, just trying to get in a rhythm," said Aceves, who signed a minor league deal in January while the Orioles held...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez makes his Orioles debut today in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. David Lough is leading off, with Nick Markakis batting second. Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at third base. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jemile Weeks 2B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez will follow Jimenez to the mound. Also...

VIERA, Fla. - OK, so "star" might be overstating it a bit. But there probably aren't many current major league ballplayers who have appeared in a major television series. Nate McLouth has. It all came together last July, when McLouth was offered a chance to appear in "House of Cards," a popular show starring Kevin Spacey that airs on Netflix. An episode of the show was going to be shot at Camden Yards, and McLouth, a big fan of the show and a member of the Orioles at the time, jumped at...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Manager Matt Williams said after tonight's 3-2 Nationals loss that right-hander Ross Ohlendorf left the game with lower back spasms, which cropped up during the right-hander's first batter faced this spring. Making his Grapefruit League debut, Ohlendorf faced just four hitters and didn't retire any of them before being pulled from the game. He walked off with trainer Lee Kuntz, and after being examined, it was determined that back spasms were the cause of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play an exhibition game today against the Phillies, but it won't have the normal spring feel to it. Manager Buck Showalter, players and staff will hop on a charter at 4 p.m and fly into Virginia to attend a gathering of family and friends honoring Monica Pence Barlow. They expect to be back in Sarasota by 10:30 p.m. The outcome of these games is largely meaningless, especially a week into the schedule. That description has never been more fitting than...