VIERA, Fla. - Michael Gonzalez was one of the most popular players on the Nationals roster during his four months with the team in 2012. A gregarious presence and a veteran who is happy to show younger players the ropes, Gonzalez immediately meshed with his Nats teammates and had success in Washington, posting a 3.03 ERA in 47 games and serving as a key left-hander in the Nats bullpen. Now Gonzalez is back with the Nats after signing a minor league deal on Tuesday. He arrived in the...

VIERA, Fla. - Nationals right-hander Doug Fister, who was scheduled to start today's game against the Astros, has been scratched due to right elbow inflammation. Manager Matt Williams said that Fister will be evaluated in the coming days and have his throwing schedule pushed back, but that the team doesn't believe the injury is anything serious. With Fister sidelined, right-hander Tanner Roark will make today's start for the Nationals. "We had an MRI taken yesterday and it shows a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Aceves is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring today after the Orioles provide innings for Ubaldo Jimenez, Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez. Aceves' debut was delayed because he had to leave camp and obtain his work visa in Mexico. He retired all three batters he faced, with a strikeout. "Basically, every day I'm coming here to work, just trying to get in a rhythm," said Aceves, who signed a minor league deal in January while the Orioles held...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez makes his Orioles debut today in a 1:05 p.m. game against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. David Lough is leading off, with Nick Markakis batting second. Ryan Flaherty is getting another start at third base. For the Orioles David Lough LF Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz DH Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 3B Jemile Weeks 2B Ubaldo Jimenez RHP Brian Matusz and Miguel Gonzalez will follow Jimenez to the mound. Also...

VIERA, Fla. - OK, so "star" might be overstating it a bit. But there probably aren't many current major league ballplayers who have appeared in a major television series. Nate McLouth has. It all came together last July, when McLouth was offered a chance to appear in "House of Cards," a popular show starring Kevin Spacey that airs on Netflix. An episode of the show was going to be shot at Camden Yards, and McLouth, a big fan of the show and a member of the Orioles at the time, jumped at...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Manager Matt Williams said after tonight's 3-2 Nationals loss that right-hander Ross Ohlendorf left the game with lower back spasms, which cropped up during the right-hander's first batter faced this spring. Making his Grapefruit League debut, Ohlendorf faced just four hitters and didn't retire any of them before being pulled from the game. He walked off with trainer Lee Kuntz, and after being examined, it was determined that back spasms were the cause of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play an exhibition game today against the Phillies, but it won't have the normal spring feel to it. Manager Buck Showalter, players and staff will hop on a charter at 4 p.m and fly into Virginia to attend a gathering of family and friends honoring Monica Pence Barlow. They expect to be back in Sarasota by 10:30 p.m. The outcome of these games is largely meaningless, especially a week into the schedule. That description has never been more fitting than...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 3, Nationals 2 Recap: Jordan Zimmermann was sharp in his second start of spring, throwing three scoreless innings, striking out four. The Nats rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on Michael A. Taylor's two-out, two-strike RBI single, but Braeden Schlehuber dropped in an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning to give the Braves a 3-2 win. Need to know: Ross Ohlendorf left the game after facing just four batters in the sixth (none of whom he...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann's first start this spring came against the Braves. He worked two quick, scoreless innings. Zimmermann's second start this spring also comes against Atlanta. He had to work a bit harder to get through this outing, but he delivered three scoreless frames this time, striking out four. After two pretty smooth innings to start his outing, featuring only one Atlanta baserunner, Zimmermann had to work out of a jam in the third. Braves center fielder Matt...

With the Orioles' recent additions of pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and outfielder/DH Nelson Cruz, the talk of signing current players to long-term extensions has quieted a bit. But those issues are still facing the organization, and now that most of the 2014 roster is set, the O's may be able to turn their attention to shortstop J.J. Hardy, whose contract is up at the end of this year, and to first baseman Chris Davis and catcher Matt Wieters, who can be free agents after the 2015 season. Here...