Having trouble deciding on the right word to describe Bryce Harper's two-homer performance in the Nationals' 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins in Monday's season opener? How about the double play Harper started in the seventh with a laser throw from left field? Or the way, after going deep twice, he faked a bunt that would have caught Placido Polanco so by surprise that Harper might have run to second before the Marlins third baseman could react? Consult your thesaurus. Nationals shortstop Ian...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Nick Markakis will lead off and Matt Wieters will bat cleanup for Tuesday's opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Nolan Reimold will start in left field and bat seventh. For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce DH Brian Roberts 2B Jason Hammel RHP Markakis' availability came into question during spring training after an MRI revealed a herniated disc...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado hasn't batted higher than sixth in the majors and he's never hit second as a professional except for exhibition games. May as well do it on opening day. Against the reigning Cy Young Award winner. When Orioles manager Buck Showalter posts his lineup later today, Machado will be listed as the No. 2 hitter against Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price. Nick Markakis most likely will bat leadoff. "Buck does everything for a reason," Machado said....

Following a record-setting spring training campaign, Orioles players and coaches have headed north to St. Petersburg to open the regular season tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Rays. Although the major league Orioles won't play games in Sarasota again until 2014, the club will continue to maintain a year-round presence in the Suncoast community, including year-round athletic training through Extended Minor League Spring Training, Summer Gulf Coast League, Fall Instructional League, and other...

The Nationals plated two runs today. Both came off the bat of Bryce Harper, who clubbed solo home runs in his first two at-bats of the season. The Nats shut out the Marlins. Seven of those scoreless innings came from Stephen Strasburg, who retired 19 in a row at one point, allowed just three hits and failed to walk a batter. A sellout crowd of 45,274 - the largest paid attendance in Nats Park history - got quite a show this afternoon, as the Nats beat the Marlins 2-0 in their 2013 regular...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is waiting to post his lineup until he speaks with a few players during batting practice, but he confirmed to reporters in his office that Manny Machado will bat second and Steve Pearce will serve as the designated hitter. Showalter also batted Machado second and started Pearce on Thursday against Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price, who is taking the mound on Tuesday. It appears that Nolan Reimold will start in left field, which puts...

The Orioles today announced that Einar Diaz has been promoted to Major League Staff Assistant Coach. Beginning this season, Major League Baseball rules permit a seventh coach to be in the dugout or bullpen during games. Diaz will serve primarily as an assistant to Hitting Coach Jim Presley. Diaz, 40, is in his sixth year as a coach in the Orioles organization after coaching assignments with Gulf Coast (Rookie), Aberdeen (Short-season A), Delmarva (A) and Bowie (AA). He also served as...

Bryce Harper might just do some things this season. In his first at-bat of the season, just some 20 minutes after receiving his 2012 National League Rookie of the Year award, Harper crushed a 1-0 pitch from Ricky Nolasco into the right field bleachers. Two pitches, one home run and a lot more talk about what could be to come from Harper in his age-20 season. The homer came on a hanging curveball over the inner half, and it left the park in a hurry. It's 1-0 Nationals. Harper sprinted...

The Nationals have just been introduced to the large crowd at Nats Park, with Bryce Harper, Davey Johnson and Stephen Strasburg receiving the loudest ovations. Jayson Werth opted not to give a high five to Screech, the mascot standing next to the players and team staffers along the first base line, drawing a laugh from reporters here in the press box. Adam LaRoche received his Gold Glove, and Silver Sluggers were handed out to LaRoche, Ian Desmond and Stephen Strasburg. Johnson was given his...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - One advantage to having a manager on Twitter is it's easier to obtain the opening day lineup. Not that Buck Showalter is going to be influenced by Joe Maddon's social media skills. Maddon just tweeted his lineup for Tuesday afternoon's game against the Orioles at Tropicana Field. Desmond Jennings CF Sam Fuld RF Ben Zobrist 2B Evan Longoria 3B Matt Joyce LF Yunel Escobar SS James Loney 1B Jose Molina C Kelly Johnson DH David Price LHP Former Oriole Luke Scott is...