VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' first split-squad games of spring are today, meaning they'll send a couple buses of players to Jupiter to face the Cardinals and leave most of their regulars back home to take on the Braves at Space Coast Stadium. Anthony Rendon is the only 2013 regular making the trip to Jupiter, along with Nate McLouth, Scott Hairston, Tyler Moore and Jamey Carroll. Bench coach Randy Knorr will manage the Nats in Jupiter, in a game started by Chris Young. As I mentioned...

VIERA, Fla. - Matt Williams met with reporters following today's 8-5 win over Houston and addressed a smattering of topics. I'm here to provide you with those responses. Williams said that he plans to make his first round of roster cuts on Sunday morning, following tomorrow's split-squad games, assuming there are no issues that cause the Nationals to adjust that schedule. If a few guys end up coming down with some kind of ailment tomorrow, limiting the number of healthy bodies in camp, the...

VIERA, Fla. - Wilson Ramos' first home run of spring was absolutely crushed. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that it might have rolled onto Stadium Parkway, which is well beyond the left field fence here at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals beat the Astros 8-5 this afternoon, and Ramos' homer - which traveled over the left field wall, over the World of Beer deck and over the hill just in front of a row of trees - was the talk of the team during and after the game. "I couldn't even...

I got an update on a handful of pitchers that are continuing their work at the Nationals accelerated development program in Viera, Fla. New low Single-A Hagerstown Suns pitching coach Sam Narron, who was the pitching coach for the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays last season, updated the current progress of three starting pitchers he worked with: right-handers 19-year-old Lucas Giolito, 23-year-old Jake Johansen and 21-year-old Austin Voth (Voth sounds like "both"). "Voth, Giolito...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 15, Phillies 4 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez dazzled in his debut, retiring all six batters and striking out three. Nick Markakis singled, doubled twice and tripled to finish 4-for-4. The Orioles pounded A.J. Burnett for six runs and seven hits in three innings. Maybe a little payback to the Monkton resident. Need to know: David Lough was hit on the foot during an outfield drill a few days ago and scratched from the trip to Fort Myers. X-rays were negative. He was...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned left-hander Mike Belfiore to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned right-hander Tim Alderson and left-hander Nick Additon to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 59 players at major league spring training, including 19 non-roster invitees.

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Astros 5 Recap: The Nats put up a six-spot in the first inning thanks mostly to a two-run shot by Bryce Harper and a three-run bomb off the bat of Wilson Ramos that launched into orbit. Zach Walters' two-run single added some cushion in the late innings after Houston had trimmed the Nats' lead to one. Need to know: Tanner Roark looked solid in 2 2/3 innings, Rafael Soriano allowed two runs in his spring debut and Jerry Blevins kept a spotless...

VIERA, Fla. - Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie is here at Space Coast Stadium today, wearing a personalized No. 22 Nationals jersey. Flutie, who went to Boston College, also has shorts with a Red Sox logo on them, repping two organizations at once. I guess we can let that slide. Flutie took batting practice in the Nats' third hitting group today and spent some time talking to players and team staffers. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler actually has a pretty good swing and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Want to get under Orioles manager Buck Showalter's skin? Keep asking him for a timetable on Manny Machado debuting in exhibition games and the odds of the young third baseman being in the opening day lineup. He'd rather not go there. Showalter can't say with any certainty whether Machado will be playing in Grapefruit League games in a few weeks after having his knee reexamined in Los Angeles. He's not going to keep providing updates and gauge whether Machado is ahead of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said the first roster cuts of spring training could be made today during lunch. Showalter indicated earlier in the week that he'd wait until after Saturday's split-squad games, but those plans have changed. Players on the 40-man roster for the first time, such as pitcher Tim Berry and catcher Michael Ohlman, can't be sent out before Monday. I prefer not to speculate on today's cuts, but first baseman Chris Marrero still can't work out...