SARASOTA, Fla. - When asked about his chances to make the Orioles' opening day roster as a Rule 5 pick earlier today, left-hander T.J. McFarland put it this way. "I just know I've come here and thrown as well as I could," he said. Simple and direct. The rest, he knows, is out of his hands. Soon the Orioles will have to decide if they can try and keep a Rule 5 pick for the second year in a row. Ryan Flaherty made it the distance last year, staying on the big league roster all season. Could...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts will play in his third consecutive game tonight, as the Orioles host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberts fouled a ball off his right ankle in the sixth inning yesterday, but he feels fine and will start at second base. Nolan Reimold is starting in left field. Adam Jones is in center and Lew Ford is in right. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Nolan Reimold LF Russ Canzler...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Rafael Soriano's wisdom tooth issues will hopefully be a thing of the past very soon. The Nationals closer was scheduled to undergo a root canal this afternoon near the team's Viera spring headquarters and manager Davey Johnson said he thinks the right-hander might be able to pitch as scheduled Friday against the Tigers at Space Coast Stadium. "I think he had a root canal at 2 o'clock," Johnson said before the Nationals battled the Braves at Champion Field on...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Pedro Strop flew from San Francisco to Orlando last night, slept until around noon and raced to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "I wanted to be here so bad," he said with a big grin. Strop tossed eight scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and stranded two runners in the championship game. He was clutch. "It was unbelievable," he said. "I don't even know how to describe this experience. An unbelievable feeling. That's the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis sat at his locker again today with an ice pack on the back of his neck and his T-shirt pulled over it, giving him a hunched look that is becoming quite familiar. "I'm getting tired of icing," he said. What's worse, the icing or having to talk to reporters every day? "Talking to you guys," he deadpanned. "I'll take the ice any day." Boom! Markakis was waiting to speak over the phone with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley this...

Prior to tonight's 7:05 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Orioles will host a special pre-game ceremony and check presentation to The Miracle League of Manasota. The third annual Birdland Golf Classic, hosted by OriolesREACH on February 20, raised over $40,000 dollars for The Miracle League, which gives children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball. On-field to help present the check will be representatives from the tournament's top sponsors, including...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis, sitting at his locker with another ice pack wrapped on the back of his neck, will speak with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley later today and hopes to be cleared for baseball activities within the next day or two. Markakis said he has full range of motion in his neck and no pain. Reliever Pedro Strop is back in camp after helping the Dominican Republic win the World Baseball Classic. He flew into Florida last night, woke up a few hours ago and rushed to the...

VIERA, Fla. - Dan Haren gets another crack at finding his velocity and command tonight when the Nationals venture to Champion Field for a 6:05 p.m. game against the Atlanta Braves. So far this spring, Haren hasn't looked very good, posting a 5.79 ERA in four starts. A look inside the stats makes Haren's spring starts look even more confounding. In 14 innings pitched, he's yielded 15 hits and nine runs. But most of the damage has been of his own doing - Haren's allowed only three walks,...

The Baltimore Orioles announced today that they will offer an exclusive incentive for those fans attending Saturday's Tag Day to purchase a partial season plan. The Orioles will provide $50 in vouchers to any fan purchasing two seats in a 13-game plan at the event. The vouchers can be redeemed at Oriole Park for additional tickets, merchandise and concessions throughout the 2013 season. Tag Day will be held at Oriole Park from 9:00 a.m. - noon this Saturday. Tag Day is an opportunity for...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles began the process of releasing perhaps as many as 30 or more minor league players when they cut eight this morning from a camp that had 175 players and will be adding more with players coming down from Baltimore. The club released left-handed pitchers Cameron Coffey, Eric Wooten and Matt Bywater, right-hander David Baker, catchers Adam Davis and Kevin Dultz, third baseman Dudley Leonora and outfielder Tim Smith. Among that list are five Orioles draft picks, two...