SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's see if Steve Johnson can counterpunch Jake Arrieta's outing last night. Arrieta didn't allow a run in six innings last night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out nine batters. He hasn't been scored upon in his last 14 2/3 innings. He's struck out 16. Johnson will try to stay in the fifth starter race today against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. He figures to get their regular lineup. Why should anything come easily to him? Buck Showalter doesn't...

The Nationals begin the 2013 campaign with a home series against the Miami Marlins. It could also be a spectacular week to view the cherry blossoms in D.C. The National Park Service has announced that the peak viewing time this year has now been pushed back to April 3-6. The Nationals open April 1 at 1:05 p.m. against the Marlins, and are also home April 3-4 against Miami. The left-field pavilion at Nationals Park is lined with cherry blossom trees. This season, the timing might be perfect...

We're nine spring training games and just 10 days away from the Nats' season opener. As opening day is drawing closer, the Nationals have continued to trim their roster. On Monday, the Nats made a handful of cuts. Pitchers Erik Davis, Yunesky Maya and Ryan Perry, catcher Jhonatan Solano, infielder Chris Marrero and outfielder Corey Brown were sent to Triple-A Syracuse. Pitcher Ross Ohlendorf and infielder Zach Walters were sent to minor league camp. Catcher Chris Snyder was also granted...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has been cleared to begin baseball activities after consulting earlier today with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley. Markakis will hit off a tee and do some light throwing on Friday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex as part of a three- to four-day offensive progression that will lead to his first games since March 1. Manager Buck Showalter figured that Markakis could play a week's worth of games in two days. "Trust me, he is Twin Lakes...

SARASOTA, Fla. - This was a good night for right-hander Jake Arrieta. He kept his scoreless innings streak alive and made another case to be the fifth starter come opening day. Arrieta pitched six scoreless innings tonight as the Orioles and Pirates played to a 10-inning 0-0 tie in front of 6,000 fans at Ed Smith Stadium. Arrieta gave up six hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. Over his past three outings, he has pitched 14 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing 11 hits with five walks and 16...

In a successful week of spring training, the Orioles have continued to trim down their roster, with opening day just 11 days away. On Saturday, before the O's went on to beat Toronto, the Birds optioned top prospect Dylan Bundy, and as expected, he was sent to Double-A Bowie. A day later, LJ Hoes was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. On that day, the Orioles played split-squad games, and our Roch Kubatko and Steve Melewski kept you updated on both games from Florida. The most recent cuts came...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The pitch fluttered toward the plate, and Adam LaRoche had trouble suppressing a laugh. The ball thrown by Tim Hudson, one of LaRoche's former teammates with the Braves and a good friend, dipped and dropped, a cross between a blooper pitch and a knuckleball. What most fans didn't see were the silent hand signals between LaRoche and Hudson before the at-bat with one out in the second inning. Hudson has had some fun at LaRoche's expense in the past, and LaRoche said...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - After getting knocked around in his last two starts, all right-hander Dan Haren wanted was some progress, some incremental achievement to show he could still be effective. Tonight at Champion Stadium against the Braves, he weathered a one-inning blip, set down 10 straight hitters and wasn't happy with his his outing ended. After getting an assortment of bad swings and weak grounders one time through the order, Haren allowed a tape-measure homer to Jason Heyward that...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta made another strong argument for being named the No. 5 starter. Arrieta blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates on six hits over six innings tonight, walking two batters and striking out nine. He threw 88 pitches, 64 for strikes. Arrieta hasn't allowed a run in his last three starts covering 14 2/3 innings. He's permitted 11 hits and fanned 16 batters. Removing the Team Spain game, Arrieta has permitted three earned runs and 13 hits in 17 1/3...

SARASOTA, Fla. - During his pregame interview with reporters today, Buck Showalter was asked how much input he will have on where some of the minor league players will play this year. Is he involved on some of those decisions? He indicated he'll leave most of that to vice president Dan Duquette and director of player development Brian Graham. Showalter did emphasize that whether a player starts out in Triple-A Norfolk or Double-A Bowie, they can be called up from either club and the Orioles...