SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have two split-squad games again today. They might be approaching a spring training record. I'm skipping the 1:05 p.m. game against the Braves in Orlando, because the clubhouse at the Ed Smith Stadium complex opens to the media at 2 p.m. Also, the Orioles figure to play most of their "regulars" in the 7:05 p.m. game against the Yankees that airs on MASN. Jason Hammel and Tsuyoshi Wada will pitch against the Braves, who will start left-hander Mike Minor. Alfredo...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals picked up their third tie of the spring today, putting their Grapefruit League record at 5-7-3. As one reporter joked, that won-loss record looks like something out of the NHL. Manager Davey Johnson wasn't too thrilled about ending today's game with the Marlins knotted at 1-1 after nine innings ("I don't like ties," he said, "I want to see the outcome."), but his only other option was to send minor league right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx out for the top of...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles played to their third tie in eight days today, getting a two-out double by Joe Mahoney in the bottom of the ninth and an RBI single from Steve Tolleson to erase a 3-2 deficit. Neither team scored in the 10th, and the Orioles' record stands at 5-6-3. Zach Phillips retired the side in order in the top of the 10th. Pedro Strop gave up two hits in the ninth, but didn't permit a run. Kevin Gregg, Jim Johnson and Matt Lindstrom also had scoreless innings. Johnson...

VIERA, Fla. - Ryan Zimmerman was drilled by a pitch in the bottom of the fifth, and after jogging down to first base, was immediately replaced for a pinch runner. Asked by reporters shortly thereafter if he's OK, Zimmerman turned towards the group with a wry smile on his face. "4-6 weeks, hip," he said. Yeah, he'll be fine. Jordan Zimmermann was happy with his outing today, saying he feels like he's making definite progress each time he takes the mound this spring. "It's getting...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles scored twice in the sixth inning on an error and passed ball to reduce Boston's lead to 3-2. Way to manufacture those runs! Nick Markakis collected his second hit, a double, took third on an Adam Jones single and came home on an errant pickoff throw. Markakis isn't running at full speed, and he was cautious breaking back toward second on Jones' grounder up the middle before taking third. Wei-Yin Chen met with reporters outside the clubhouse after allowing...

VIERA, Fla. - With four innings in the books and 72 pitches under his belt, Jordan Zimmermann is done for the day. Zimmermann, making his third start of spring, did not allow a run today, scattering six hits and striking out three. Of his 72 pitches, he threw 50 strikes - by my count, at least. Zimmermann didn't have his best stuff today, but he showed off a very sharp slider on a few occasions, and threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 17 batters he faced. So far this spring, the righty...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen became the first Orioles pitcher today to work past the fourth inning, though the fifth didn't go as smoothly as the rest. Chen took a three-hit shutout into the top of the fifth before allowing back-to-back singles to Ryan Lavarnway and Pedro Ciriaco, and a three-run homer to former Orioles farmhand Nate Spears. His only walk came with two outs to former Orioles outfielder Darnell McDonald, but Josh Kroeger struck out looking to end the inning. Chen...

VIERA, Fla. - While it's widely assumed that Chien-Ming Wang's hamstring injury might have opened up a spot in the Nationals rotation for John Lannan, we shouldn't necessarily forget about Ross Detwiler. Yes, Lannan led the Nationals in wins last season and is owed $5 million this season. He's a consistent performer, eats innings, and the Nats would not be in bad shape, to say the least, if he opens the season as their fifth starter. But Detwiler has put together a pretty strong spring,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I don't have much to report from manager Buck Showalter's pregame session with the media, except it's really, really hot on the field. Showalter received a favorable report on Tommy Hunter's four-inning, 60-pitch effort in yesterday's minor league game. He noted that Hunter tired a little in the fourth inning. Showalter confirmed that Hunter will start Wednesday against the Blue Jays in Sarasota. Reliever Darren O'Day is throwing off a half mound today as he recovers...

It is getting closer to the time to start a new baseball season in Baltimore. But that doesn't stop me - lover of stats as you know - from still presenting some numbers from last season. Good start, remember?: The Orioles began last season going 4-0 and 6-1. In those first four games, they gave up just one run in each contest. According to Elias, that tied a major league record of four consecutive wins to start a season while allowing no more than one run in each game, previously set by the...