SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis is back in camp today and pain-free after being examined yesterday by spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Markakis is taking a medicine pack for another six days to alleviate the discomfort in his neck caused by a small herniated disc, and is hopeful that he'll be on the field in a week or two. "He basically told me what was going on and what to expect and that was pretty much it," Markakis said. "It's a slight...

VIERA, Fla. - Not that kind of streaking. Take it easy. Bryce Harper continues to hit the cover off the baseball this spring, only elevating expectations for what could be to come in his second major league season. Harper crushed a three-run homer off Mets right-hander Matt Harvey in the first inning today, smoking a ball over the advertisements above the right-center field wall. It was Harper's third home run this spring and made him 15-for-33 during the Grapefruit League season. That's a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Taylor Teagarden gets the start behind the plate, as expected, for tonight's game against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers. Ryan Flaherty will get another look at shortstop, with Alexi Casilla playing second base. Manny Machado is making another trip, getting the start at third base. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla 2B Ryan Flaherty SS Manny Machado 3B Jason Pridie LF Taylor Teagarden C Travis Ishikawa 1B Danny Valencia DH Chris Dickerson RF Trayvon Robinson CF Brian Matusz...

The Orioles and OriolesREACH, along with All Faiths Food Bank and media partner the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, will host the third annual Food Drive at Ed Smith Stadium this Friday, March 15. Fans attending the 1:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with them for donation to the All Faiths Food Bank. In addition to food items, the Orioles will also collect monetary donations at ballpark entry gates. All Faiths Food Bank gathers and, in...

VIERA, Fla. - Should Team USA advance to the championship game of the World Baseball Classic, Nationals manager Davey Johnson says Gio Gonzalez will get the ball. Johnson said today that he's been informed that Gonzalez will be in line to pitch the title game, if Team USA does indeed get that far. Gonzalez would be pitching on six days' rest, two more than pitchers are used to, but Johnson likes the way Team USA manager Joe Torre has things lined up, saying that if Japan is the other team...

VIERA, Fla. - In no way is this a surprise, but Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter for the second straight season. It's been clear for some time now that Strasburg was lining up to get the ball for April 1 against the Marlins at Nationals Park. Strasburg's spring training pitching schedule has him set to be on normal rest come April 1, and the right-hander has looked sharp in his four spring starts to this point. Manager Davey Johnson finally made the announcement...

VIERA, Fla. - It's been a little more than 10 months since Jayson Werth broke his left wrist sliding for a ball in right field during a game against his former team. Since that May 6 game against the Phillies, Werth has rehabbed the wrist, returned to a major league diamond and shown that he can still produce at a high level even without being 100 percent healthy. Following his return last season, Werth hit .312 with two home runs, 16 doubles, 19 RBIs and a robust .394 on-base percentage in...

The Nationals' accelerated development program has two weeks in the books in Florida. This week, I will have some updates of a few of the pitchers in the camp, starting with A.J. Cole, Taylor Jordan and Brad Meyers. Right-hander Cole is making good progress in his first camp since being trading back to the Nationals from the Oakland A's. The 21-year-old Cole had a rough start last season at Oakland's high Single-A team, but then settled down at low Single-A and dominated again. Sometimes,...

VIERA, Fla. - It certainly doesn't compare to the intensity level of his two starts in the National League Division Series last October, in which he allowed five runs and 11 walks in 10 innings. But in his first true competitive outing in nearly five months, and in a pretty big spot on an international stage, Gio Gonzalez delivered a stellar performance. Gonzalez pitched five scoreless innings against Puerto Rico tonight in the second round of the World Baseball Classic, allowing just three...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's back to Fort Myers and back under the lights tonight, as the Orioles visit the Minnesota Twins for a 7:05 p.m. game at Hammond Stadium. Brian Matusz will make the start after three two-inning appearances. He's allowed three runs - all against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 2 - and six hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. Tommy Hunter also is slated to pitch. Taylor Teagarden will start behind the plate after asking to enter Sunday's game to further test his lower...