JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams will manage the Nationals for the home portion of Sunday's split-squad games, when Justin Verlander and the Tigers roar into Space Coast Stadium. Triple-A Syracuse skipper Billy Gardner will manager the other split-squad game versus the Astros in Kissimmee. Williams and the Nats' major league staff will be in Viera because it's the team's second game with replay this spring - and the game's on MASN HD beginning at 1 p.m., to boot. But in order to get...

JUPITER, Fla. - Matt Williams has just over two weeks left in spring training to make good on his offseason promise to get third baseman Ryan Zimmerman in a game at first base. But Zimmerman hasn't played since Monday, and has been troubled by right shoulder and general soreness in recent days, minor maladies that have stunted Williams' plan to increase the infielder's positional resume in a game situation. Zimmerman is listed as the designated hitter for today's game against the Marlins...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't rule out third baseman Manny Machado for opening day. However, the news today that Machado's final knee examination won't take place on Tuesday as tentatively scheduled presents a serious obstacle in getting him in the March 31 lineup. Machado hasn't run in five days due to scar tissue breaking up in the knee, a common occurrence following surgery. "That's resolving itself pretty good right now and I think he will probably get back...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Caleb Joseph is in major league spring training for the third time. He is coming off his best offensive season in the Orioles minor leagues and trying to show Buck Showalter what he can do whenever he gets a chance. He got the start Thursday going 0-for-3 against the Yankees and is 1-for-7 with an RBI in six spring games. He is starting today's game here at Ed Smith Stadium, catching and batting eighth. Matt Wieters' sprained right ankle is probably getting Joseph a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles third baseman Manny Machado won't have his knee examined on Tuesday in Los Angeles, further reducing his chances of being ready on opening day. Machado hasn't run in five days because of scar tissue breaking up in the knee. It's nothing serious, but Machado can't undergo an exam by Dr. Neal ElAttrache until he's able to run. Manager Buck Showalter wouldn't rule out Machado for opening day, citing how Nolan Reimold is getting plenty of at-bats at minor league...

SARASOTA, Fla. - On opening day last year, Steve Pearce was in the Orioles' starting lineup. But he knows he's not a starter on this team and this spring training, he finds himself yet again fighting for a big league roster spot. It's life on the bubble. We're not talking about the NCAA tourney and Pearce knows the baseball version quite well. He seems to be a player always in the hunt for a bench spot, but never at the point where his roster spot is secure. "It has been something I've...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters still expects to be back in the Orioles lineup Monday night at Ed Smith Stadium. Wieters is being held out of today's game against the Yankees while continuing to receive treatment on his sprained right ankle. He wouldn't have made the trip to Dunedin on Sunday regardless of his health situation. "In spring training, you don't want to hurt anything else or make it worse, so a couple more days, try to completely knock it out, then be good to go," he...

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg takes the hill against the Marlins today at 1:05 p.m. in Jupiter, and he'll have a lot of regulars behind him at Roger Dean Stadium. Both Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman return to action, but only Harper will play in the field. Zimmerman, who has been battling general soreness, is listed as the designated hitter. Here is the Nationals lineup for today's game: 2B Anthony Rendon SS Danny Espinosa DH Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper C Wilson Ramos 1B Adam...

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough is out of the Orioles lineup today after being scratched yesterday with neck stiffness. Lough had a 3 p.m. doctors appointment yesterday after leaving Fort Myers. I'll pass along an update later. Alexi Casilla is unavailable today due to a hyperextended left knee. Matt Wieters continues to receive treatment on his right ankle and should play on Monday. Nick Markakis, who has been bothered by shoulder tendinitis, is the designated hitter today. Nelson Cruz is...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As soon as the Orioles signed Alexi Casilla to a minor league contract in January, I penciled him onto the 25-man roster as a utility infielder. No doubt in my mind. Casilla would back up at second base, short and third. He was a necessity with Ryan Flaherty projected as Brian Roberts' replacement at second. He offered more versatility than Jemile Weeks. What could possibly go wrong? Well, let's start with the injury to Casilla's right hamstring and continue with his...