In the 17th round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles selected right-hander Nick Carmichael of Palomar (Calif.) College. In the 18th round, they took third baseman Bradley Roney of Wetumpka (Ala.) High. And in the 19th round, they selected Central Arkansas left-hander Dustin Ward. Yes, eighth-round pick Johnny Ruettiger, a center fielder from Arizona State, is the nephew of Daniel Ruettiger, the walk-on Notre Dame football player whose story inspired the movie "Rudy." I've been...

Luke Scott is looking forward to his return to the Orioles lineup tonight. He has not played since Friday against Toronto, but he's in there tonight batting seventh in left field. Scott got a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder on Sunday. It seems that shot has worked for him so far. "It feels the best it's felt in six weeks. That's a positive," he said in the clubhouse a few moments ago. Then he headed out for batting practice to test the shoulder in the cage for the first time...

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will not play tonight but is expected to play Wednesday night for Single-A Potomac Nationals. Zimmerman has gone 4-for-5 in two rehab starts as he recovers from abdominal surgery.

Justin Duchscherer left today's extended spring training game in the third inning with a sore hip, yet another setback that reduces that chances that he'll pitch for the Orioles this season. Duchscherer went four innings in his last outing and was supposed to go five today, but he didn't make it. The Orioles would have considered sending him on an injury rehab assignment if he had completed his start. Duchscherer is being paid $700,000 this year, and he would earned an extra $400,000 for...

During the next homestand, the Washington Nationals will raise funds for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of recent tornadoes across the country. From Alabama to Missouri, the Red Cross has launched 20 separate relief operations in the United States since March 31. More than 4,500 Red Cross workers from all 50 states have been deployed to help those in need. A portion of proceeds from tickets purchased at nationals.com/relief will be donated to the cause. Tickets...

The Washington Nationals will launch a special initiative to support relief efforts in areas devastated by recent tornadoes. During the team's series against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles from June 14 to June 19, a portion of proceeds from tickets purchased at nationals.com/relief will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief fund. Tickets eligible for the donation include: * LF/RF Baseline Reserved * LF/RF Corner * Outfield Reserved * Scoreboard Pavilion...

For only the second time in his major league career, shortstop J.J. Hardy will bat first in the order. He's never started in that slot and doesn't own an official at-bat. Felix Pie and Robert Andino are on the bench, so manager Buck Showalter needed to improvise. Luke Scott is playing left field two days after having a cortisone injection in his shoulder. For the Orioles: J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Vladimir Guerrero DH Derrek Lee 1B Matt Wieters C Luke Scott LF...

Alex Meyer thought the Nationals would call. Meyer said in Tuesday's conference call that when they picked the All-Southeastern Conference pitcher at No. 23, he was pretty excited. He even had confidence that the Nationals considered selecting him at No. 6. "I had a pretty good idea the Nationals were interested," Meyer said. "It ended up that I was available at that spot. It is a great opportunity to play for the them. I am really looking forward to it." What a season it was for Meyer...

I'm not sure that I actually saw more than two pitches of Brian Matusz's start last night until the fourth inning. I relied on the live box score and quick glances at the scoreboard. The First-Year Player Draft forced my attention away from the field, but that won't happen tonight, since today's picks started a little after noon. In the fifth round with the 155th overall selection, the Orioles chose Middle Georgia College left-hander Matt Taylor. Taylor was 7-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 16...

In the third round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles used the 94th overall selection on East Carolina right-hander Mike Wright. Baseball America rated Wright as a fifth- or sixth-round talent and the 74th-best right-hander in the draft. The Orioles disagree. Wright was 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts, with 30 walks and 75 strikeouts in 100 innings. He lost 2-0 to St. John's in Game 2 of the Charlottesville Regional on Friday, allowing two runs and seven hits, with four walks and...