SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter called Jake Arrieta into his office today with news that the right-hander would start the April 6 opener against the Minnesota Twins at Camden Yards. Arrieta had a pretty good idea that Showalter was informing the pitchers of their slots in the rotation. And now everyone knows. "Jake will pitch on that day and we will go from there," Showalter said. Arrieta, 26, went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA in 22 starts last season before undergoing surgery to remove a...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals closed out their Grapefruit League season this afternoon with a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox. But in my mind at least, the game takes the backseat today. The real story, the story worth telling, is of the four guys on the roster bubble who learned today that they'll be heading north with the Nationals as part of the team's 25-man opening day roster. Chad Tracy, a man who slugged 27 homers with the Diamondbacks in 2005, hit just .235 with one home run in Japan...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter will reveal his opening day starter before tonight's game against Florida Southern. Initially, Showalter told reporters that he'd wait until after the game, but he relented and promised to tell us sooner so we can interview the pitcher. Jason Hammel apparently will pitch the third game on Sunday, but that's not official. The rotation could be adjusted. Don't write down anything in permanent marker. Reliever Matt Lindstrom's right hamstring...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - If there's some good news today amid all the players going on the DL and the injury to Roger Bernadina, it's that Danny Espinosa might be starting to click. The Nationals second baseman ripped his second homer in as many days this afternoon, taking one out to center field here at JetBlue Park. After going without a homer or an RBI for his first 21 games of spring training, Espinosa has two big flies in the last 26 hours or so. This one came from the left side, which is...

Dan Klein, the Orioles' third-round draft pick in 2010 out of UCLA and a pitcher the team had high hopes for, will see shoulder specialist Dr. Craig Morgan on April 13. Klein had shoulder surgery last Aug. 16 and had still been experiencing some discomfort at camp at Twin Lakes Park. Klein was able to do some light throwing during camp, but when he extended the distance and velocity he began to feel the discomfort, according to a club official. Dr. Morgan is the same doctor that recently...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are breaking out most of their regulars for tonight's game against Florida Southern, but they'll lean heavily on their bullpen to cover nine innings. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF Nick Markakis DH J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Ryan Flaherty RF Jim Johnson RHP Johnson will go one inning. Troy Patton will follow him and go two innings. Don't read too much into it. The Orioles aren't changing...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are preparing for tonight's game against Florida Southern at Ed Smith Stadium, and I'm guessing that we'll have a lot of first-pitch swinging. Alfredo Simon won't be part of it. He's already left the complex carrying his equipment bag, still uncertain where he'll be unpacking it. The Orioles placed Simon on waivers Friday, so it shouldn't be much longer before the right-hander learns his fate. "I don't know nothing yet," he said. "I'm thinking maybe...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals cannot catch a break. Already without their projected starting left fielder and center fielder, both of whom will start the season on the disabled list, the Nationals will have to play the rest of today's spring training finale without Roger Bernadina, who was expected to start in center field on opening day. Bernadina has been pulled from today's game after being hit on the leg by an errant Aaron Cook pickoff throw. The Nats outfielder jogged into second...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Now that the Nationals have announced they will officially place four guys on the disabled list to start the season, the team's opening day roster is very close to being finalized. At this point, the position players are all set, manager Davey Johnson confirmed. The 13 position players that remain in the Nats' big league camp will make the 25-man roster. Wilson Ramos and Jesus Flores will be the catchers. Your infielders will be: Adam LaRoche, Danny Espinosa, Ian...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Nationals will be without their projected cleanup hitter/left fielder, closer, starting center fielder and fifth starter to begin the season. Manager Davey Johnson said today that Michael Morse, Drew Storen, Rick Ankiel and Chien-Ming Wang will all start the season on the disabled list. Morse (strained lat) and Ankiel (quad) will work out the with the team these next couple days but will begin the season on a rehab assignment, likely with Double-A Harrisburg, Johnson...