VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals made a couple of roster moves after today's rain-shortened game, placing right-hander Christian Garcia on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm tendon injury and outrighting infielder Carlos Rivero to Triple-A Syracuse. Garcia's DL stint is retroactive to March 22. Rivero had to clear waivers for the Nationals to outright him to Triple-A, and him doing so is a bit of a surprise. The Nats were afraid they'd lose the 24-year-old, but he went unclaimed,...

VIERA, Fla. - The infield here at Space Coast Stadium is currently one giant lake. The grounds crew wasn't able to get the big tarp onto the field before the skies opened up in the top of the eighth inning this afternoon, and the Braves-Nationals game was called with the Nationals officially picking up a 9-3 win after seven innings of play. Jordan Zimmermann battled winds of at least 29 mph to throw six strong innings. In his final Grapefruit League start this spring, Zimmermann allowed...

BRADENTON, Fla. - It hasn't been a good day for left-handers on the Orioles' pitching staff. Brian Matusz allowed five runs and nine hits in four innings, and he was clearly upset with his performance while talking to reporters outside the visiting clubhouse at McKechnie Field. Luis Ayala retired the side in order in the fifth, but lefty Troy Patton was charged with five runs in the sixth inning to tie the game 10-10. The last two runs scored after Patton was removed with two outs and two...

VIERA, Fla. - Within two days, the Nationals have gotten back both players they lost in the Rule 5 draft this offseason. The Tigers returned infielder Jeff Kobernus to the Nats yesterday, and today, a source confirmed that left-hander Danny Rosenbaum has been returned by the Rockies. Rosenbaum spent last season at Double-A Harrisburg, going 8-10 with a 3.94 ERA. The 25-year-old went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings with the Rockies this spring, and after Colorado determined that...

VIERA, Fla. - Think Jordan Zimmermann is ready for games that actually mean something? The guy just finished off a stretch where he had retired 27 hitters in between base hits allowed. Working through a stiff cross wind that is blowing around 25 mph, Zimmermann went the first three innings without surrendering a hit to the Braves this afternoon, facing the minimum over that span. The right-hander allowed a leadoff hit to open his last start, against the Tigers, only to then hold Detroit...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Outfielder Trayvon Robinson appeared to suffer a back injury today after lining a run-scoring single into center field in the top of the first inning, and Lew Ford pinch-ran for him. Robinson crouched down in foul territory as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells came out of the dugout. Robinson kept reaching for his lower back with his left hand as he slowly walked to the clubhouse. Robinson, a non-roster invitee who isn't expected to make the club out of spring training,...

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made a minor league trade today, acquiring 22-year-old pitcher Julio Rodriguez from the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Ronnie Welty. Rodriguez is a 6-foot-4 right-hander from Puerto Rico and a former eighth-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. He spent last season with Double-A Reading, going 7-7 with a 4.23 ERA in 29 games (22 starts) and 136 strikeouts in 134 innings - placing him third in the Eastern League. Rodriguez was chosen to the World...

BRADENTON, Fla. - While Jake Arrieta appears to be the choice as the Orioles' fifth starter, manager Buck Showalter continues to list five candidates. Arrieta was removed from Tuesday's starting assignment against the Minnesota Twins, with Kevin Gausman taking his place. Arrieta will pitch at Twin Lakes Park. Asked if we could conclude that Arrieta is the fifth starter, Showalte replied, "No." "We just haven't gotten there yet," Showalter added. "I'm not precluding him from being in...

VIERA, Fla. - You never know what information will come out of an interview session with Davey Johnson. Today, reporters learned that former Orioles shortstop Mark Belanger never wore a cup. Don't ask how we got there. We also learned that Henry Rodriguez has hit a bit of a snag in his spring throwing progression, and the question now is whether it will at all affect his status for opening day. Rodriguez will not pitch this afternoon against the Braves after experiencing a little elbow...

VIERA, Fla. - Chris Young is going to wait at least another day before deciding whether to opt out of his minor league contract with the Nationals. Under the terms of his current deal, Young could choose to opt out of his contract with the Nats today and search for a big league deal on the free agent market, but instead, he's planning on making his scheduled start with the team tomorrow in Kissimmee against the Astros. "I'm going to pitch tomorrow and then we'll evaluate at that point,"...