Pregame ceremonies will honor the Navy Yard community prior to the 2014 home opener The Washington Nationals will mark the start of the 2014 season at Nationals Park when the team faces the Atlanta Braves at 1:05 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2014. The day's pregame events will pay tribute to those affected by last September's tragedy at the Washington Navy Yard, located just a few short blocks from Nationals Park. The Nationals will remember the lives lost and recognize the resolve and...

It has been five days since we launched our #masnFirstPitch contest, which will give one lucky fan the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Nationals game on April 5. Have you tweeted your submission yet? If you haven't, don't worry. You still have eight more days to send a tweet to our @masnNationals account using #masnFirstPitch and tell us why you should throw out the first pitch. We've compiled some of our favorite tweets below: @masnNationals #masnFirstPitch I've...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Executive vice president Dan Duquette stopped by the media workroom this morning to discuss the trade that sent Alex Gonzalez to the Tigers for Steve Lombardozzi. "Steve Lombardozzi is a talented infielder," Duquette said. "He's good at second base and can also play third and the outfield. Switch-hitter. Good hands. He's a hustler, a scrappy player. Has two years experience and he's just 25 years old. So, we think he'll be very helpful for our team. And he's a local...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rain is coming down hard at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, putting in jeopardy today's game against the Red Sox. Jonathan Schoop will start at third base if the Orioles play. Steve Lombardozzi is listed among the reserves. For the Orioles Nick Markakis RF J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young DH Jonathan Schoop 3B Jemile Weeks 2B Brian Matusz LHP The bullpen includes Alfredo Aceves, Darren O'Day, Josh Stinson, Ryan Webb, T.J....

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder Steve Lombardozzi from Detroit in exchange for minor league infielder Alex Gonzalez. Lombardozzi, 25, is a .264/.297/.342 hitter in 755 plate appearances since 2011 with Washington, and a career .298/.369/.411 hitter in four minor league seasons. Acquired by Detroit with two other players in exchange for right-hander Doug Fister on December 2, 2013, Lombardozzi has played second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield for...

SARASOTA, Fla. - With third baseman Manny Machado set to begin the season on the disabled list, the Orioles made a move this morning to bring in another infielder who can play multiple positions and perhaps start at second on opening day. The Orioles have acquired Steve Lombardozzi, 25, from the Tigers for Alex Gonzalez, a source confirmed. Lombardozzi, a Fulton native who attended Atholton High School, has played second base, shortstop, third and the outfield. He's a career .264/.297/.342...

VIERA, Fla. - Notes from Nationals camp and other teams that train in Florida: * Nats outfielder Denard Span said that part of the reason he hit well in the final weeks of last season was because he stopped taking on-field batting practice before games, focusing on hitting from the tee and in the cage. "When I was on the field, my swing got long," Span said. This spring, he'll return to BP on the field and then adjust as needed. * The Tigers put out a release saying that Max Scherzer, the...

VIERA, Fla. - We head back to Jupiter for the second time in four days today, as the Nationals will take on the Marlins for the final time this spring. We're getting a lot of drives down I-95 over the final week of spring games, with three trips to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter and two to Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. My rental car is getting worked pretty good of late. Taylor Jordan starts for the Nats today, and I believe reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez will...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz is back on the bump today, making his fourth Grapefruit League appearance in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium. He most recently tossed five innings in a minor league game. Jake Peavy is starting for the Red Sox, who also are bringing former Orioles left-hander Rich Hill. Manny Machado will find more reporters gathered at his locker this morning, seeking his reaction to the Orioles' decision to place him on the 15-day...

The 2014 season will be interesting for catchers around Major League Baseball due to the new experimental rule involving home plate collisions. This MLB.com story outlines the highlights of experimental rule 7.13: * A runner may not run out of a direct line to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher, or any player, covering the plate. If he does, the umpire can call him out even if the player taking the throw loses possession of the ball. * The catcher may not block the...