VIERA, Fla. - When he woke up this morning, Bryce Harper felt some tightness in his left calf. He tried to work it out on a stationary bike at the Nationals complex, but when the calf didn't respond, manager Davey Johnson decided to pull Harper from today's starting lineup against the Astros. Speaking in the Nationals' clubhouse moments ago, Harper said he doesn't think the injury is anything serious, and he expects to return in a matter of days. "It's just precautionary," Harper...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel says he was more amped up for Friday's intrasquad start than today's Grapefruit League outing against the Atlanta Braves. Hammel retired the side in order in his only inning on Friday. Today, he allowed two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings. "Honestly, for the first time out, considering all things, the results were good," he said. "The fastball was a little erratic today. That was my goal, to work on fastball command. The first inning...

VIERA, Fla. - The buzz inside Space Coast Stadium just prior to first pitch was all about Bryce Harper being scratched from today's game because of left calf tightness. Edwin Jackson gave everyone something else to talk about. Jackson threw four scoreless innings against the Astros this afternoon, allowing just two hits and striking out three. The righty showed off impressive offspeed stuff today, and looked really sharp early, setting down the first six batters he faced. Ross Detwiler...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel provided quite a contrast to yesterday's starter, Wei-Yin Chen, and not only for the obvious reasons. Chen was a strike-thrower yesterday. Hammel had trouble finding the plate this afternoon. However, Hammel also gave the Orioles two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and walking a batter. Hammel walked Braves leadoff hitter Luis Durango on four pitches and fell behind, 2-0, to Martin Prado. But Matt Wieters threw out Durango trying to steal second, and...

VIERA, Fla. - When the Nationals took the field just prior to the top of the first inning, their top prospect was missing from what was set to be his starting spot in right field. Bryce Harper has been scratched from today's starting lineup. Manager Davey Johnson has moved Brett Carroll moving from center field to right and Eury Perez will take over in center field. There's no word as of yet on why Harper was a late scratch. Harper, the 19-year-old phenom who is battling for a spot on the...

VIERA, Fla. - For the second straight day, Adam LaRoche spent the late-morning hours out at Field 3 here at the Nationals spring training complex testing out his injured foot by getting in some at-bats during a minor league intrasquad game. Like yesterday, LaRoche hit third every half-inning, but unlike yesterday, he actually made some strong contact, ripping a home run to right-center field. It's worth noting that the longball came off Robbie Ray, a lefty. The issue with LaRoche is still...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette may have delivered the final blow to the ongoing rumors that the club might sign free agent Johnny Damon. The following exchange took place this morning as Duquette walked past a small group of reporters outside the clubhouse. Reporter: "Are you going to sign Johnny Damon?" Duquette (laughing): "I don't think so. I already signed Johnny Damon when he was 28." Meanwhile, catcher Michael Ohlman will be examined Friday by team...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Now that Nick Markakis is running sprints, the Orioles are able to map out his schedule in an attempt to get him ready for opening day on April 6. Markakis is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter on March 14, his first game action since undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn abdominal muscle. Markakis has been taking batting practice, gradually increasing the intensity of his swings, and shagging fly balls in the outfield. The sprints yesterday gave manager...

VIERA, Fla. - Manager Davey Johnson says that left fielder Michael Morse is feeling better after dealing with a lat strain the last few days, and he while he isn't ready to return to Grapefruit League action yet, he will get some extra hitting in during the next three to four days. Same for Adam LaRoche, who will hit and run the bases today during an intrasquad minor league game after just taking some cuts during an intrasquad contest yesterday. I'm going to pop over to the side fields in a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jason Hammel makes his first spring start today. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Wilson Betemit 1B Jai Miller RF Ryan Adams DH Robert Andino 2B Jason Hammel RHP Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that he wanted to see more of Miller, who had a three-run double yesterday, and the former Oakland Athletics outfielder is starting in right today. Also, Showalter indicated that Nick Johnson would play first...