So Kissimmee, Fla., is out as a possible spring training base for the Nationals. Where does that leave the Nats in terms of their longstanding desire to relocate spring camp to a location that offers both a new stadium and more teams closer by? For the time being, they'll stay in Viera, Space Coast Stadium and the adjacent minor league complex. Though it's not their preference, the Nationals at least have a functional facility at their disposal - at least until their lease runs out at the...

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis better not believe in the Sports Illustrated cover jinx or he won't want to leave the house. Davis is being featured on one of the Aug. 26 regional covers, with a profile written by Tom Verducci. As soon as I tweeted this information, Davis was hit by an Alex Cobb pitch. It's already starting. Most recently, catcher Matt Wieters made the SI cover in March 2010, and Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and Endy Chavez made it last September. Before tonight, Davis...

If anything good came out of last night's repeated failures with runners in scoring position and less than two outs, it's that closer Jim Johnson ceased to be the center of attention among frustrated fans. Manager Buck Showalter continued to field questions today about his club going 2-for-14 and stranding a season-high 15 runners. It was the topic du jour at Camden Yards. Adam Jones, often criticized for his aggressive approach at the plate, is actually a .338 hitter with RISP this season,...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Wearing his bright white No. 23 Aberdeen IronBirds jersey, Orioles' first round draft pick Hunter Harvey has pitched two scoreless innings tonight here at Ripken Stadium in his debut with short-season, Single-A Aberdeen. Harvey pitched around a two-out jam in the second when he fanned Hudson Valley's John Alexander after allowing back-to-back singles with two outs. Harvey threw a 94 mph fastball by Alexander for his fourth strikeout after a two-out infield single followed by...

CHICAGO - Adam LaRoche is making the most of his day off today, as the first baseman spent part of batting practice getting some ground balls at shortstop, rotating in with Ian Desmond. LaRoche was casually scooping grounders with his first baseman's mitt and then whipping the ball across the diamond to first. It's a bit weird seeing a left-hander on the left side of the infield, I'll tell you that. The day off for LaRoche comes as a result of Davey Johnson wanting to get Tyler Moore into...

One day after promoting top prospect Lucas Giolito to short season Single-A Auburn, according to a source the Nationals have announced plans to promote three more prospects. Left-hander Brett Mooneyham will start for Single-A Potomac on Thursday, weather permitting. Mooneyham was 10-3 with a 1.94 ERA in 17 starts with Single-A Hagerstown. Austin Voth and Jake Johansen will also be promoted to Hagerstown. Both started the season with Auburn. Johansen, the Nats' top pick in the June draft,...

With two more right-handers scheduled to start against the Orioles after tonight, Danny Valencia may not return to the lineup until Saturday against Oakland left-hander Tommy Milone. You can bet that he'll start against David Price if the Orioles are matched up against him during the final road series of the regular season on Sept. 20-23. Valencia is 9-for-12 lifetime against Price after going 2-for-2 with a walk last night. "He may have a career doing this," manager Buck Showalter said....

ABERDEEN, Md. - After five outings in the Gulf Coast League, the Orioles first round draft pick, right-hander Hunter Harvey makes his debut tonight for short-season, Single-A Aberdeen. Harvey will face the Hudson Valley Renegades here at Ripken Stadium at 7:05 p.m. after working to a 1.35 ERA over 13 1/3 innings in the GCL with two walks and 18 strikeouts. Harvey is the son of former big league pitcher Bryan Harvey, who is here for this game. He is scheduled to throw around 75 to 80 pitches...

According to a Major League Baseball source, neither right-hander Stephen Strasburg nor manager Davey Johnson will be suspended for Saturday's incident in Atlanta during which the Nationals starting pitcher hit Justin Upton with a first-inning pitch and later threw behind Andrelton Simmons, earning ejections for both himself and Johnson. After Strasburg drilled Upton with a first-pitch fastball in the first inning, home plate umpire Marvin Hudson warned both benches that any further...

Kevin Gausman picked up his first Triple-A win last night with five scoreless innings for Norfolk, and the reports on him were quite good. Gausman's fastball was 96-98 mph. One of his finest outings of the year. The Orioles are expected to add Gausman to their expanded roster in September. He's likely to pitch out of the bullpen, though manager Buck Showalter left open the possibility that he could make a start. "He could do either, depending on what the need is, if he's called up,"...