KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Bernadina has left today's game against the Astros after just two and a half innings, with Brett Carroll replacing him in center field. Bernadina appeared to tweak something when he tracked down a long fly ball off the bat of Astros third baseman Chris Johnson in the bottom of the second. The 27-year-old outfielder needed to quickly go back close to the warning track to make the catch. He bent down at the waist after making the grab, appearing to stretch his...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - As we inch closer and closer to opening day - and we're now under the two-week mark until the real games have arrived - guys are running out of chances to impress manager Davey Johnson and try and earn one of the final couple spots on the Nationals' roster. Things are made a little murky by the injuries to left fielder Michael Morse and first baseman Adam LaRoche, which might open another position or two on the 25-man roster if those guys need to start the season on the DL....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman faced three batters yesterday in Fort Myers, struck out all three and was done for the afternoon. Should we read anything into that one inning against the Twins? Are the Orioles considering him for a late-inning relief role? The safe answer is "not at this time." Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that the subject has been broached in the past. "That's not the first time," he said. "That's come up two years ago, a year ago. You've also got to think about...

The Washington Nationals' extensive efforts in the military community were recognized last night when the team was presented with the USO of Metropolitan Washington's Legacy of Hope Award during its 30th Annual Awards Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Va. Established in 2004, the award is named after famed entertainer and longtime USO advocate Bob Hope and is presented annually to an organization that exhibits extraordinary dedication to supporting our nation's service members. "As...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters this morning that shortstop J.J. Hardy will return to the lineup on Saturday against the Nationals in Sarasota. Hardy is taking batting practice despite receiving treatment for a sore right arm. "He wants to play, but I'm going to give him one more day." Showalter said. "Just want to get it resolved. It's taking just a tad longer than usual. Usually it's resolved by now. It's nothing he couldn't play with. There are a lot...

Orioles 2009 first-round draft pick Matt Hobgood is going to have season-ending surgery on his right rotator cuff after getting a second opinion from a doctor on his ailing shoulder. Hobgood, who said he had not felt right or truly free of discomfort since beginning his pro career, will be operated on April 2 by Dr. Craig Morgan of Wilmington, Del., a shoulder specialist. After an offseason where he seemed to make some progress in rehabbing his shoulder injury, Hobgood was recently shut down...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Dontrelle Willis, signed to a minor league deal earlier this week, is still waiting to get into his first game with the Orioles. "Hopefully soon. I don't know," he said. Willis threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and has been playing catch. "I'm just trying to catch up," he said. "I feel good. I feel like my strength is getting back, so that's good." The Phillies released Willis on Friday. "It's just about getting the strength back and the timing...

VIERA, Fla. - The test results on Drew Storen's right elbow have come in, and the Nationals can breathe a sigh of relief. Storen underwent an MRI on his right elbow yesterday, and the test confirmed that the Nats closer does not have any structural damage to his arm. There's a little inflammation in the elbow joint, Storen said, but nothing's wrong with the reliever's UCL. That's the ligament which, if torn, can result in Tommy John surgery. "There's nothing extremely unnormal,"...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is out of the lineup again today because of a sore right arm. Robert Andino will make his second consecutive start at shortstop. Hardy didn't throw yesterday and also will rest today. "We just want to get it under control," Hardy said, adding that he could play through the discomfort it if were the regular season. "My arm, shoulder, it's just not feeling good. It's something I deal with every year. It's a nagging thing, but it's sticking...

VIERA, Fla. - In their last three games, the Nationals have been shut out twice. They've scored more than three runs in a game only once in their last six contests, are hitting .249 as a team and have put up just 69 runs for the Grapefruit League season, fourth-worst in the majors. "I don't want them peaking too early," manager Davey Johnson said yesterday of his hitters, before pausing and cracking a smile. "And we're not." Is it time to panic? Do the spring struggles indicate that...