VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a host of roster moves following today's 7-3 win over the Mets, a couple of which are a bit surprising. The team has released infielder Jamey Carroll and right-hander Chris Young, and optioned first baseman Tyler Moore, right-hander Ryan Mattheus and left-hander Xavier Cedeno to Triple-A Syracuse. Manager Matt Williams also informed right-hander Aaron Barrett, the closer at Double-A Harrisburg last season, that he's made the Nats' opening day...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles are going to make a few cuts later today. Stay tuned. Tommy Hunter and Zach Britton are slated to pitch again on Wednesday, giving them back-to-back appearances for the first time this spring. Left-hander Troy Patton will be eligible to pitch in his first game for the Orioles on April 29 after serving his 25-game suspension. A few pitchers will stay back in Sarasota on Saturday and throw bullpen sessions, rather than accompany the team to Norfolk for the final...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Twins 4, Orioles 1 Recap: The Twins scored twice off Bud Norris after Alexi Casilla's error to open the bottom of the second. They added another run in the fifth. Norris was solid, with four of the seven hits against him in 5 1/3 innings being bloopers or the infield variety. Zach Britton retired both batters he faced after replacing Norris in the sixth, lowering his ERA to 0.87 in 10 1/3 Grapefruit League innings. Tommy Hunter allowed a run in the seventh on Chris...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar underwent an MRI on his left knee yesterday and has been diagnosed with patella tendinitis. Executive vice president Dan Duquette, in a text message, indicated that it's a "possible DL" situation for Almanzar. The Orioles can't option Almanzar without placing him on waivers and offering him back to the Red Sox. The injury, which occurred while he played first base Saturday in Port Charlotte, could provide the Orioles with additional time to...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 7, Mets 3 Recap: Right-hander Stephen Strasburg gave up three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, walked two and struck out seven. Bryce Harper hit his second spring homer, a towering three-run shot that glanced off a flagpole in left-center, and Ryan Zimmerman also went deep. Need to know: The Nats' starting eight (minus the pitcher) played the entire game, a sure sign that spring training is nearing an end. On deck: Wednesday, at Cardinals in...

Five days. We will have regular season baseball starting on Monday, which is five days away. But before the Orioles open against the World Series champions the Boston Red Sox, make sure you catch up on any stories you might have missed on the Orioles from National writers. * Toward the end of last week, one of my favorite baseball writers Tyler Kepner of The New York Times, wrote a really nice column on the 2014 Orioles. Kepner starts his column by detailing executive vice president Dan...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter informed infielder Ryan Flaherty that he's heading north with the team after it breaks camp this weekend. Flaherty could start at third base in Manny Machado's absence. Showalter hasn't revealed his plans for opening day. Wei-Yin Chen will start the third game on April 3 against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Showalter is deciding on the order for Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris, who will pitch in Detroit. Rule 5 pick Michael Almanzar had an...

This time next week, meaningful baseball will be played. That's right - in just five days, the regular season will be under way. You may have missed some stories from national outlets coming out of the last week of camp. Don't worry, I have you covered. * Several of the Nationals' core players have been together for many years. Many were part of the 2012 team that won the National League East title, but suffered a National League Division Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Last...

VIERA, Fla. - Instead of starting the Nationals' final Grapefruit League game this spring against the Mets on Thursday, right-hander Doug Fister will instead pitch in a minor league game that day, with Jordan Zimmermann getting the ball at Tradition Field against the Mets. Fister, who is still working back from right elbow inflammation that caused him to go 19 days in between big league spring starts, is scheduled to throw around 60-65 pitches in the minor league game, manager Matt Williams...

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg will make his final spring training start against the Mets, a game that will be broadcast on MASN HD at 1 p.m. Manager Matt Williams said this morning that he hopes to get the right-hander, who will start the Nats' season opener in Flushing, N.Y., against the Mets, about five innings today. That could increase to six innings if Strasburg's pitch count is low. Here's the Nationals lineup against the Mets: CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 3B...