SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Simon, sidelined with a groin injury, will pitch Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. He'll throw a couple of innings after starter Dana Eveland leaves the game. Outfielder Jai Miller (knee) will make the trip to Dunedin and is expected to play. Outfielder Endy Chavez (groin) could return to the lineup Thursday night against the Yankees in Tampa. Manager Buck Showalter said Tsuyoshi Wada could make two more starts after today, though he'll have to get...

JUPITER, Fla. - Steve Lombardozzi is back in left field today as the Nationals take on the Marlins. Davey Johnson is really giving Lombardozzi - a lifelong infielder - a good look in left field the last couple weeks. Rick Ankiel is back in the lineup after getting the last two days off. He's in center field, hitting third. Here's the Nats' lineup today: SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel 3B Mark DeRosa 1B Chad Tracy C Jesus Flores RF Roger Bernadina LF Steve Lombardozzi P...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Pat Neshek has pretty much done everything in his power to break camp with the Orioles next week, but he still regards himself as a long shot. And he seems perfectly fine with those odds. Neshek hasn't allowed a run in seven appearances covering 6 1/3 innings. He's given up three hits, walked none and struck out six. "Coming in, I wanted to improve a lot on my command. That was my main focus, and I think I've done that," he said. "I feel really good out there....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tsuyoshi Wada makes his first Grapefruit League start, and second appearance, this afternoon against the Twins. Chris Tillman will follow him to the mound. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF Nick Johnson DH Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit RF Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Tsuyoshi Wada LHP

VIERA, Fla. - We know how John Lannan reacted to being named the Nationals' fifth starter. How did Ross Detwiler respond to the news he'd officially be getting his work out of the Nats' bullpen to start the season? He carefully answered questions yesterday with a slight smile on his face, but said he'll need some time to adjust to being used in relief. "I'm a big routine person," Detwiler said. "That's what's kind of throwing me off right now: I'm not on the same routine I've been...

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Pirates scored an unearned run off Jim Johnson after his leadoff walk to Andrew McCutchen in the bottom of the seventh, but Matt Wieters responded with his third hit of the night, an RBI single in the top of the eighth to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Tommy Hunter threw 15 more pitches in the bullpen after racking up 70 over six scoreless innings. Hunter was much better tonight than in his Grapefruit League debut. "Fastball was getting located," he said. "That was...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Where was Tommy Hunter in 1971 and 1979? The Orioles could have used him in the World Series. Hunter was in total control tonight against the Pirates, shutting them out on one gift double, walking one and striking out five in six innings. He threw 70 pitches, 48 strikes. Alex Presley walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning, but Hunter got a 6-3 double play and struck out Andrew McCutchen. Rod Barajas reached in the second inning when first baseman Wilson Betemit...

The Orioles today announced eight spring training roster cuts, bringing their spring roster to 35 players. The Orioles optioned infielder Matt Antonelli and right-handers Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken to Triple-A Norfolk. Outfielder Scott Beerer, catcher John Hester, infielder Steve Tolleson, right-hander Armando Galarraga and left-hander Dontrelle Willis have been reassigned to minor league camp. Additionally, left-hander Zach Britton (left shoulder impingement) and second baseman Brian...

VIERA, Fla. - When Davey Johnson officially slotted John Lannan into his starting rotation earlier today, he probably had outings like this afternoon's on his mind. When Lannan is good, when he's spotting his fastball and getting good movement on his offspeed stuff down in the zone, he's pretty darned good. And Lannan was pretty darned good today, as he went five strong innings this afternoon against the Astros, allowing two runs on just two hits with a walk and five strikeouts. The lefty...

BRADENTON, Fla. - We had a flurry of roster activity this afternoon, with pitchers Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken, and infielder Matt Antonelli optioned to Triple-A Norfolk; pitcher Dontrelle Willis, infielder Steve Tolleson, catcher John Hester and outfielder Scott Beerer reassigned to minor league camp; and second baseman Brian Roberts and pitcher Zach Britton going on the 15-day disabled list. One more pitcher will be reassigned, but he hadn't been informed before batting practice....