VIERA, Fla. - After getting his second game off in a five-day span in order to rest a sore left thumb, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup for today's Grapefruit League finale against the Mets. Harper sat out yesterday's game against the Braves after getting jammed the day prior in a two-hit performance in Jupiter. He said his thumb felt better when he woke up yesterday, and the thumb had improved enough by today that he was cleared to return to the lineup. "He wanted one or two...

VIERA, Fla. - Yesterday, we learned that both Henry Rodriguez and J.C. Romero would make the trip to D.C. with the Nationals following this afternoon's Grapefruit League finale, leaving the two relievers in the mix for the final spot in the Nats' bullpen. Today, manager Davey Johnson said that unless Rodriguez suffers some kind of injury when he appears in tomorrow's exhibition game against the Yankees at Nats Park, the flame-throwing right-hander would get that final bullpen spot, with...

What will happen in the American League this year? Here's a team-by-team look at the AL, the top storylines, key players to watch and one man's predictions. BALTIMORE ORIOLES Storyline: General manager Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter have brought stability and a winning attitude to the Orioles, who expect to contend with the rotation in developing stages. The Orioles, the No. 2 wild card team last season, have a deep bullpen to go with a tight defense and strong offense, but...

Maybe you thought you'd never see the day when a prominent national baseball writer would not only pick the Orioles to win the American League East, but at the same time would pick New York to finish last. Well, it happened this week and almost happened twice. ESPN's Buster Olney picks the Orioles first and the Yankees last in the AL East. His ESPN colleague, Jayson Stark, picked the Yankees last, as well, but has the Orioles finishing in second place. Olney ranks them in order as...

VIERA, Fla. - It's here. The final day of spring training is here. Boy, these seven weeks really have flown by. I'm kidding. They really haven't. It's time to get out of here and get some meaningful games under way. I've jammed all my clothes into a couple bags, left some condiments in the fridge in my hotel room and am about to head out the door and make the drive over to Space Coast Stadium for the final time this spring. If you're on the east coast of Florida and need some barbeque...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's see whether the Orioles can make it through tonight's game without an injury. Manager Buck Showalter may want to summon a bunch of poor unsuspecting souls from the minor league camp. Get the regulars out of there after the anthem. The pitchers may actually be wearing numbers in the 80s and 90s. The Orioles haven't listed a starter to replace injured Steve Johnson, and Showalter indicated yesterday that he could dig deep into the supply at Twin Lakes Park....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Dickerson has "a slight strain around his right Achilles" and is considered day-to-day, according to manager Buck Showalter. Dickerson tried to plant his foot in the soft grass to avoid running into Conor Jackson in the eighth inning and had to leave the game. Showalter said outfielder Trayvon Robinson is close to returning. Robinson felt more discomfort in his lower back today while taking batting practice. The line drive that hit Jair Jurrjens in the right ribcage...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jair Jurrjens was making his final spring training start tonight. He didn't expect it to span only seven batters. "Yeah, that sucks," he said. To say the least. Jurrjens was nailed on the right ribcage by a line drive from New York Yankees designated hitter Thomas Neal in the top of the second inning. He will undergo precautionary X-rays on Thursday at 8 a.m. "Phew, scary. Really scary," he said. "I think I tried to come back a little bit and that's why it got me...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter often says that the final week of spring training can be the most worrisome because of the risk of injuries. The idea is to get out of camp in good health. Two days ago, infielder Wilson Betemit suffered a Grade 2/3 tear of his right PCL. And tonight, starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens faced only seven batters before being hit by a line drive off the bat of New York Yannkees designated hitter Thomas Neal with no outs in the second inning. The ball...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The third shoe dropped today in Orioles camp. Besides pitcher Kevin Gausman and first baseman Travis Ishikawa, the Orioles also reassigned catcher Chris Robinson to minor league camp. Manager Buck Showalter met with him following batting practice. The moves leave the Orioles with 34 players in spring training, including six non-roster invitees. They must get down to 25 by 3 p.m. Sunday. Robinson went 4-for-11 in 10 games. He left the team to play for Canada in the World...