VIERA, Fla. - Doug Fister's long-awaited second Grapefruit League start this spring comes against the same team that he faced all the way back on March 2 - the Miami Marlins. An MRI after Fister's spring debut showed that the right-hander had inflammation in his right elbow, but 20 days later, he's now discomfort-free and back on the mound at Space Coast Stadium today hoping to make it through three innings against a Marlins split-squad. Anthony Rendon is indeed out of today's lineup, as...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jemile Weeks is leading off today for the Orioles, who travel to Port Charlotte to play the Rays. Not many projected starters in the lineup. Henry Urrutia is in right field and Nolan Reimold is serving as the designated hitter. Alexi Casilla gets another start at shortstop. Josh Stinson, Alfredo Aceves, Evan Meek and Brad Brach are listed among the relievers. For the Orioles Jemile Weeks 2B Nolan Reimold DH Henry Urrutia RF Delmon Young LF Steve Clevenger C Steve...

VIERA, Fla. - It's Jordan Zimmermann's turn in the Nationals spring rotation today, but we won't see Zimmermann on the mound at Space Coast Stadium this afternoon when the Nats host the Marlins. We'll see Doug Fister instead. Fister will make his first Grapefruit League appearance since March 2, this after being briefly shut down with right elbow inflammation. The right-hander is scheduled to throw three innings and about 45 pitches today as the Nats try and slowly build his arm strength...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are hitting the road today, making their second trip to Port Charlotte to play the Rays. David Lough led off yesterday and doubled in his first at-bat. He manufactured a run by taking third on Adam Jones' fly ball and scoring on Chris Davis' sacrifice fly. Lough reached on an infield hit in the eighth to go 2-for-4 with two runs scored and leave his slash line at .321/.367/.500 in 10 games. Davis leads the Orioles with nine runs scored in 10 games. Lough, who...

Jack Cust's attempt at a comeback with the Orioles ended today when he was released by the club. He signed a minor league deal Feb. 5 and had been working out at the minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park. Cust was one of seven players released today from minor league camp. The list included Matt LaPorta, a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2007. The club also released right-handed pitchers Zach Staniewicz, Casey Upperman and Julio Rodriguez, left-handed pitcher Harry Marino and...

JUPITER, Fla. - A Nationals lineup composed of bench players and minor leaguers ran into a buzzsaw in Adam Wainwright today, as the Cardinals' right-hander threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven in a 2-0 St. Louis win. You don't typically see a starter go eight innings in spring, but you also don't typically see a starter only threw 81 pitches in eight spring innings. Gio Gonzalez ended up throwing more pitches than Wainwright, but he lasted just 4...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Luis Ayala took his physical today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. However, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said the minor league deal is "still in process" and the club won't announce it until Saturday at the earliest. As I wrote earlier, Ayala will report to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park if he passes the physical. Tommy Hunter pitched an inning today in a Triple-A game at Twin Lakes Park. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti watched Hunter before...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 8, Braves 0 Recap: Miguel Gonzalez filled in for Chris Tillman today and looked like an ace, tossing six scoreless innings with three hits allowed, no walks and five strikeouts. He's the first Orioles pitcher to complete six innings this spring. Chris Davis' sacrifice fly gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the first and produced his team-leading 10th RBI. Braves starter Gus Schlosser retired 12 in a row after David Lough's leadoff double in the first. Alex...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Cardinals 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard, Blake Treinen and Xavier Cedeno combined to throw 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Adam Wainwright, meanwhile, held a Nats lineup filled with reserves and minor leaguers scoreless over eight strong frames. Need to know: Gonzalez didn't have his good stuff today, but he still got his work in. Stammen and Clippard looked sharp. On deck: Saturday,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - David Lough had a leadoff double in the first inning today for the Orioles. That's their only hit. Braves right-hander Gus Schlosser, making only his second spring start, retired 12 Orioles in a row. But he's losing 1-0 because Miguel Gonzalez is keeping Atlanta off the board. Some serious dealing going on here in Sarasota. Gonzalez is proving to be a good substitute. He replaced Chris Tillman as today's starter and has faced one batter over the minimum through five...