NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann was sharp in his second start of spring, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out four. The Nats rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on Michael A. Taylor's two-out, two-strike RBI single, but Braeden Schlehuber dropped in an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Braves a 3-2 win. Need to know: Ross Ohlendorf left the game after facing just four batters in the sixth (none of whom he...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann's first start this spring came against the Braves. He worked two quick, scoreless innings. Zimmermann's second start this spring also comes against Atlanta. He had to work a bit harder to get through this outing, but he delivered three scoreless frames this time, striking out four. After two pretty smooth innings to start his outing, featuring only one Atlanta baserunner, Zimmermann had to work out of a jam in the third. Braves center fielder Matt...

With the Orioles' recent additions of pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and outfielder/DH Nelson Cruz, the talk of signing current players to long-term extensions has quieted a bit. But those issues are still facing the organization, and now that most of the 2014 roster is set, the O's may be able to turn their attention to shortstop J.J. Hardy, whose contract is up at the end of this year, and to first baseman Chris Davis and catcher Matt Wieters, who can be free agents after the 2015 season. Here...

The Nationals have done many different drills this spring to perfect fundamentals. Pitchers have taken infield, shifts have been implemented in spring games and signs have been practiced. So when the Nats took the field for spring games, you may have thought that there would be clean plays, strong defense and low-scoring games. Then the Nats squeaked by the Braves in a game this week, and the final score was 16-15. #SpringTrainingProblems Yes, these games mean nothing, but that box score is...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The tarp has been pulled off the field here at Champion Stadium and it looks like there will be baseball played tonight between the Nationals and Braves. It's incredibly overcast and gloomy-looking here, and based on the radar that I just looked at, there's a chance we get a little more rain before first pitch. But Jordan Zimmermann should be good to make his second start of spring, both of which will be against Atlanta. Manager Matt Williams said that he's looking...

Once again, the Orioles made national headlines this week, signing Johan Santana to a minor league deal. A seasoned veteran, Santana can bring much experience if healthy, and he is targeting June 1 as a possible date to be ready to help out the Orioles. The left-hander joins a system that is filled with talent, including many young players who are being noticed around the league. The other day, I was talking with someone about the Orioles, and one of the topics of conversation was how much...

The Orioles today announced that Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. will visit Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday, March 12 for the Orioles game against the Phillies, where he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and sign copies of his new children's book, Squeeze Play, on the lower concourse beginning at 2 p.m. Ripken will sign the first 300 books for fans. The visit is part of a national book tour for Squeeze Play, the fourth installment in the New York Times best-selling "Cal Ripken Jr.'s...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will have their first split-squad games of spring Saturday, and they've posted their pitching order through those games. Doug Fister will start tomorrow at home against the Astros, with Tanner Roark piggybacking him. (For those unaware, that's the term used when another starter immediately follows the pitcher who began the spring game. I don't expect Roark to actually get a piggyback ride from Fister.) Rafael Soriano is also scheduled to pitch tomorrow, which...

When the Nationals open their 2014 season at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on Monday, March 31, MASNsports.com will kick off another season of contributions from guest bloggers on our site. The Nationals blogosphere is one of the most active in the major leagues, offering fans with Natitude the opportunity to read interesting takes on all things curly and W. This strong community was one of the reasons MASNsports.com initiated the introduction of guest bloggers in 2011, and the partnership...

Baseball's back - well, almost - and so are the guest bloggers that have been a staple at MASNsports.com since 2011. Starting with March 31, the date of the Orioles' home and season opener at Camden Yards, a different guest blogger will share their opinions each weekday. There are a host of fan blogs that follow the Orioles, and welcoming guest bloggers to our pages is a way for MASNsports.com to both offer a platform for their distinctive voices and supplement our beat writers' work with a...