Buck Showalter needs his starters to work deep into both ends of this doubleheader. Zach Britton is off to a good start. Britton needed only six pitches to complete the top of the first inning. Ian Kinsler flied to center, and Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton bounced to first. Britton covered the bag for the final out. Six pitches, four strikes. And a fastball that reached 94 mph. Good to see. Nick Markakis gave Britton a 1-0 lead with his first home run. The ball landed on the flag court in...

At this point, it may be a somewhat safe assumption that Kevin Gregg is the O's closer. He has the club's only save this year. Manager Buck Showalter doesn't seem to want to publicly anoint anyone for that role and he has a few options for the ninth inning. Gregg said that is fine with him. "We pitch when we are told to pitch. Buck and Mark (Connor) make the decision as to when we come into the games. Pretty simple," Gregg said. The right-hander saved 37 of 43 games for Toronto last...

The Yankees need inconsistent pitcher A.J. Burnett to be consistent, and so far, thanks to an improved changeup, Burnett has won his first two starts. Also, catcher Russell Martin has made a good impression. No need to worry about the slow starts of Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee, or his Nationals counterpart, Adam LaRoche. Each is making good contact. Lee, hitting. 182 after being out a good chunk of March, is in late-spring training mode. LaRoche, who hit a game-winning home run Thursday,...

Just not at the same time. Brian Roberts didn't really elaborate on the stomach pains that caused him to be scratched from last night's lineup and undergo tests at a local hospital. He's just glad to be in the lineup for Game 1. "Everything's fine," he said. "I haven't been feeling great for a couple days and the doctor just a little while before the game wanted me to go get checked out." Asked if he was given a diagnosis, Roberts replied, "Nothing really. I was just having some...

Chris Jakubauskas is back in the major leagues. This time he wants to stick around longer than 12 pitches. Jakubauskas was officially recalled today by the Birds as Brad Bergesen was sent back to Triple-A. He will possibly be the starting pitcher tomorrow, but that plan could get foiled if the O's need to use him in either of the two games here today. "All I've been told is (I'm the) emergency arm for tonight and tomorrow will be handled later tonight, probably after the game I'll find...

The Orioles didn't wait until the conclusion of Game 1 to make a roster move. Brad Bergesen has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, and Chris Jakubauskas takes his place on the 25-man roster after having his contract purchased this morning. The Orioles didn't need a corresponding move involving the disabled list because Jakubauskas wasn't on the 40-man roster. Jakubauskas most likely will start tomorrow against the Rangers, with Jeremy Guthrie pushed back to Tuesday in New York. However,...

Brian Roberts is back in today's lineup for Game One after being sent to the hospital last night with stomach pains. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Cesar Izturis SS Zach Britton LHP

Baseball America has released their position-by-position rankings for the top prospects in the game. To see the list you will need a subscription, but I wanted to share with you how it looks from a Nationals perspective. The Nats' No. 1 prospect, Bryce Harper, is still at the top of the list, and the organization can take pride in seeing some other familiar names in the top-20 at each position. At catcher, Jesus Montero of the New York Yankees is listed No. 1. Nationals prospect and...

The tests on Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts came back negative. No appendicitis, nothing serious. A team official confirmed that Roberts has been cleared to play. Roberts won't need to go on the disabled list and could return to the lineup for today's doubleheader against the Rangers at Camden Yards. It depends how he's feeling when he arrives at the ballpark. I'll obviously have more information when I get to Camden Yards around 1 p.m. Roberts was scratched from last night's...

I'm rushing around this morning, which seems to be my usual routine, but I wanted to post some comments from Cal Ripken before getting ready for the Wall to Wall Baseball show on MASN - I'm on the air from 11 a.m. to noon - and the doubleheader at Camden Yards. Who needs sleep? We'll find out later today if Brian Roberts' stomach pains were a virus or something more serious that could put him on the disabled list and free up a spot for a reliever if the bullpen is stretched too thin. A...