VIERA, Fla. - In a couple of hours, I'll be making the trip over to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, spring home of the Astros. It was in that stadium last year when the Astros' mascot walked right up to the front of the press box, stood directly in front of me, tapped on the glass and creepily started waving at me. Talk about nightmare city. That's the type of image that will haunt your dreams, right there. Fourteen games into spring training, the Nationals finally will get their...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A.J. Burnett returns to Ed Smith Stadium today, where the Orioles battered him for six runs and seven hits in three innings on Friday. It's like Michael Spinks asking for a rematch with Mike Tyson. Of course, it's only an exhibition game. And the Orioles have moved on from their failed negotiations with Burnett over the winter. Not that they're done trying to sign another starter. They still have that one-year offer on the table for Ervin Santana that's in the $13...

The Orioles have the toughest schedule in the major leagues this season. That is according to this story from FanGraphs, which made this list looking at each team's opponents and going by team-by-team WAR projections. The O's MASN partners, the Washington Nationals, were rated to have the easiest schedule for 2014. No doubt the AL East remains tough with the Orioles' schedule ranked No. 1 along with Toronto No. 3, New York No. 6, Tampa Bay No. 7 and Boston No. 8 in the American League. On...

VIERA, Fla. - It was a quiet 3-2 ballgame this afternoon, with just nine total hits put up by the Nationals and Yankees. Jordan Zimmermann had a good bit to do with the limited number of baserunners, at least when it came to the Yankees' offensive attack. Zimmermann worked four perfect innings today, going 12-up, 12-down. He struck out four and threw 54 pitches on the afternoon, 37 for strikes. "It went pretty well," Zimmermann said. "First couple innings, I didn't get ahead of the guys...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles catcher Matt Wieters came out of today's game in the top of the fifth inning after rolling his ankle at third base. The removal was done as a precaution, according to manager Buck Showalter. The club hasn't scheduled an X-ray. Wieters, who earlier had drawn a bases-loaded walk and advanced on a wild pitch, was running to third base on Ryan Flaherty's ground ball with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wieters is icing the ankle to prevent swelling. He...

VIERA, Fla. - After sitting out the last week and a half with inflammation in his right elbow, Nationals right-hander Doug Fister played catch today off flat ground, and came through the session OK, according to manager Matt Williams. This was the first time Fister had thrown since feeling discomfort in his elbow after his spring debut on March 2. An MRI revealed that Fister was dealing with inflammation in the elbow, and the Nats have been treating the issue with anti-inflammatories, ice...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 Recap: Former Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves gave up two runs in the top of the seventh inning, which began with the score tied 3-3, and Ryan Lavarnway homered off him leading off the eighth. Aceves surrendered two home runs in his previous outing. Brian Matusz retired all six batters he faced with three strikeouts. The Orioles scored twice in the fourth on four straight walks and a wild pitch. Nelson Cruz walked and doubled. Michael Almanzar had...

The Orioles' are off to one of the hottest starts in spring training. The club has won nine Grapefruit League games and has looked impressive while doing so. I know MASNsports.com has loyal readers, but you may have missed other stories from national outlets. Don't worry, I have you covered. * MLB.com's Bernie Pleskoff took a deeper look at the Orioles' top prospects and how they could benefit the big league club. Kevin Gausman and Jonathan Schoop are two players who could help out the...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 3, Yankees 2 Recap: Anthony Rendon scored a run in the first and then drove in two in the second with a double into the left field corner. Jordan Zimmmermann retired all 12 batters he faced and the Nats held on for the one-run win. Need to know: Zimmermann has now thrown nine scoreless innings this spring, allowing just three hits and one walk and striking out nine. On deck: Wednesday, (ss) at Braves, 1:05 p.m.; (ss) at Astros, 1:05 p.m. VIERA, Fla. -...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned three players to minor league camp - pitcher Eddie Gamboa, infielder Cord Phelps and outfielder Julio Borbon. The moves leave the Orioles with 50 players in camp, including 12 non-roster invitees. Gamboa didn't allow a run in 4 2/3 innings over five appearances. He walked one and struck out six. The Orioles want to stretch out Gamboa and prepare him to start at one of the affiliates this season. He could be assigned to Double-A Bowie, depending...