The Orioles are working out indoors today because of the rain. They haven't posted a lineup due to the uncertain status of right fielder Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup in Norfolk with neck stiffness. Markakis received treatment again today and told me that his neck is "much better than yesterday." Asked about playing on opening day, he replied, "I don't know." Neither does manager Buck Showalter, who's written two lineups for Monday - one with Markakis and...

They are two young players who got their first tastes of big league baseball during the 2013 season. Going into spring training, it looked like one had a better chance to make the Orioles' opening day roster than the other. Kevin Gausman looked like he could emerge from camp in Florida pitching in the O's rotation and Jonathan Schoop looked like a player likely to begin the season at Triple-A. But as it turned out, Schoop will run down the orange carpet tomorrow while Gausman will begin...

NEW YORK - Adam LaRoche's 2013 struggles have been well-documented. Struggles when it comes to his offensive performance. Struggles when it comes to keeping weight on his frame. The good news for both LaRoche and the Nationals is that on the eve of the 2014 season, the 34-year-old first baseman feels good. He feels good at the plate after a strong spring training. He feels good health-wise. And he feels ready to be a big part of what many people feel will be a strong offensive ball...

I'm heading to Camden Yards this morning for the workout that precedes opening day. Don't try to stop me. The weather may force the Orioles indoors for batting practice. As long as the clubhouse still has a roof over it, the media will be perfectly fine. I'll check on Nick Markakis, who was scratched from yesterday's lineup due to neck stiffness. I'll check on Nelson Cruz, who took an Alex Cobb curveball off his batting helmet during Thursday's game against the Rays. I'll check on...

NEW YORK - Hello from the Big Apple, where it's cool, dreary and dark. Only one day remains until opening day, however, so that brightens things a bit. Not a single pitch was thrown off the Nationals Park mound yesterday, and we didn't see any batters dig into the batter's box. The tarps covering the field and the rain that persisted throughout the day prevented all that, as yesterday's exhibition at Nats Park was canceled due to the weather. It still was a long day for Nationals players...

NORFOLK, Va. - After today's game was called due to rain with the Orioles winning 4-3 over Norfolk in six innings, manager Buck Showalter touched on a variety of topics in the manager's office at Harbor Park. He said he let the position coaches tell players that they had made the opening day roster. So infield coach Bobby Dickerson got to tell Jonathan Schoop he'd be on the roster come Monday. "He's been with him a long time too," Showalter said of the Dickerson-Schoop relationship. "I...

NORFOLK, Va. - Jonathan Schoop has made the Orioles' opening day roster and will likely be in the starting lineup Monday against Boston. Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that after today's game. It was pretty obvious, but Showalter told reporters that Schoop, Evan Meek, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young had claimed roster spots. The Orioles optioned Kevin Gausman, T.J. McFarland and Jemile Weeks to Triple-A after the game, getting the roster down to 32 players. Tomorrow they are expected to...

The Orioles reduced their roster to 32 players following today's rain-shortened 4-3 win at Harbor Park by optioning pitchers Kevin Gausman and T.J. McFarland and infielder Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Norfolk. They will get down to the required 25 by putting Manny Machado, Edgmer Escalona, Francisco Peguero, Nolan Reimold, Michael Almanzar and Johan Santana on the disabled list, and by having Troy Patton on the restricted list while he serves a 25-game suspension. Barring a late addition,...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned right-hander Kevin Gausman, left-hander T.J. McFarland and infielder Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Norfolk. With this move, the Orioles now have 32 players at major league spring training, including three non-roster invitees.

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 4, Norfolk 3 (rain, six innings) Recap: Matt Wieters hit a three-run homer off Zach Davies in the top of the second and the Orioles went on to a 4-3, rain-shortened win over Triple-A Norfolk today. The game was halted by rain after five and a half innings. The homer was Wieters' first of this spring and he now has eight RBIs. Several half-innings were ended early during the game due to high pitch count including the last of the fifth when Norfolk scored once...