VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman's spring debut at third base lasted four innings. He's out of the game, replaced by Chad Tracy at the hot corner for the top of the fifth. Zimmerman handled his only chance with no problems, but it's not like Carlos Corporan's slow roller leading off the second was particularly challenging. Zimmerman charged the bouncer, scooped it and threw across his body fluidly to get the Astros catcher by a couple of steps. We would have gotten a better sense of how...

VIERA, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg is humming along in his fifth start of the spring. He's fanned six in three innings and has thrown 52 pitches (40 strikes) through three frames. He's expected to throw about 75 pitches tonight against the Astros. Houston got two quick singles off the Nationals' opening day starter in the first inning - a leadoff line drive by Trevor Crowe and a windblown pop to left that Bryce Harper lost in the sun that was ruled a single. Since then, the Astros are...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - For the Orioles, it was another day and another good outing by a starter that is not guaranteed a spot in the opening day rotation. Jake Arrieta pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings today in the Orioles' 3-1 win over Toronto and the competition for the fifth starter's job is heating up. Manager Buck Showalter spent most of a 10-minute postgame session with reporters talking about just that. At one point, he asked reporters who they would take, not that he needs any help from...

VIERA, Fla. - The only thing disappointing about Ross Detwiler's experience in the World Baseball Classic was the way it ended. Less than 24 hours after Team USA was eliminated by Puerto Rico, the left-hander returned to the Nationals. Detwiler, who didn't pitch in the Americans' losses to the Domincan Republic and Puerto Rico, will jump right into the fray and start Sunday against the Tigers in Lakeland. Detwiler relished the opportunity to represent his county and get some hands-on...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - After pitching 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball today, Jake Arrieta said he may have had his best mix of pitches this afternoon that he's ever had in a game going back in his memory bank. He also had a top-notch slider in his outing against Toronto. "Today was the best sequence I've had from start to finish in a long time," he said. "Not just this spring, but since I can remember. The way I mixed my pitches from my slider, my curveball and mixing those in around good-located...

VIERA, Fla. - At the risk of sounding like one of those kitschy postcards, greetings from Space Coast Stadium. While Dan Kolko takes some well-deserved time off over the next week, I'll be carrying you through all the important Nationals news. Check back on MASNsports.com frequently and give me a follow at @masnPete on Twitter. First things first: The lineup for tonight's 6:05 p.m. game against the Astros - which will be broadcast on MASN HD, so make sure to tune in to Bob Carpenter and F.P....

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Playing the Toronto Blue Jays for the fourth time this spring, the Orioles have taken an early 2-0 lead after three innings. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Nolan Reimold RBI groundout. It scored Lew Ford who doubled with one out. The O's made it 2-0 in the second on Danny Valencia's RBI double, which scored Taylor Teagarden, who had doubled high off the fence in left. That was three doubles in the first two innings against Jays lefty J.A. Happ, who...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's announcement that that Orioles optioned Dylan Bundy to Double-A Bowie was inevitable. It just didn't appear to be imminent. The Orioles weren't going to plug Bundy into their rotation or bullpen coming out of spring training. He's been projected to begin the 2013 season with the Baysox. It's been written here all winter and before the open of camp. The rotation at Triple-A Norfolk will be crowded, but the Orioles can make room later this summer or leapfrog Bundy...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - In his pregame session with reporters here, Orioles manager Buck Showalter talked about the timing of today's move sending top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy to minor league camp. Bundy was optioned to Double-A Bowie this morning. "Innings," Showalter said. "Time for him to get stretched out a little bit more and they are not here for him. He's going to start the year in Bowie and we want to get that mindset and adjustment made as soon as possible. We've had two springs...

The Orioles today announced that they have optioned right-hander Dylan Bundy to Double-A Bowie and right-hander Todd Redmond to Triple-A Norfolk. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 49 players at major league spring training, including 14 non-roster invitees.