SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is waiting to hear back from his athletic training staff after Justin Duchscherer declined to pitch in the simulated game on the Camden Yards field. Duchscherer alerted the club that he felt some discomfort while throwing off flat ground. "He just came out here and wasn't able to pitch," Showalter said. "I don't really know where we're at. Richie (Bancells) just said he felt some discomfort and wants to get it looked at. Doesn't feel good...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer wasn't able to pitch in today's simulated game because of discomfort in his left hip. Duchscherer threw on flat ground and said he didn't feel comfortable. The medical staff is checking on him. The Orioles could go with a four-man rotation early in the season because of the April 5 off-day, giving them more time with Duchscherer. The simulated game involved a pitcher, batter, catcher and umpire. Nobody else. It gave guys like Jim Johnson and Mark...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play three straight home games, so I can leave my GPS at the hotel. I've got this route memorized. The clubhouse was closed to the media in the morning because of meetings. Players are participating in drills on the main field. Justin Duchscherer is getting ready to pitch in an intrasquad game on one of the back fields. It's the "left-handed game" that manager Buck Showalter organized. Players were brought over from the minor league side, including first...

The Washington Nationals today optioned left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and outfielder Bryce Harper to Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League and re-assigned right-handed pitchers Ryan Mattheus and Tim Wood to minor league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 42 players in their big league camp.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Brandon Snyder collected his third hit in the ninth inning, a run-scoring single that completed the Orioles' 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros. Snyder came within a triple of the cycle while raising his spring average to .360. Ryan Adams also had three hits and is batting .500 with six RBIs. "We had some things we wanted him to get adjusted with before he went on the field, and I can see why he has the potential offensively," manager Buck Showalter said. "He has a...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - We had a long delay in the top of the seventh inning after a woman was hit by a Jake Fox foul ball behind the Astros' bullpen area. She was removed on a stretcher. Players left the Astros dugout and walked to the railing. Fox eventually returned to the Orioles' dugout and watched from the top step. He struck out once play resumed. Brandon Snyder homered off Casey Fien leading off the top of the eighth. Orioles 5, Astros 0. Ryan Adams reached on an infield hit to open the...

Nationals prospect A.J. Cole pitched for the first time at accelerated camp in a game versus Italy this week. The right-hander went one inning, allowing two walks, no hits and no runs on 18 pitches. Cole said it took him a few pitches to get going, but then he got into a rhythm. "At first, it was a little slow but it got a little bit better," Cole said. "I was the third pitcher in the seventh inning against Italy. They were pretty good hitters, they made contact every time. I got a ground...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton extended his spring scoreless innings streak to nine today by shutting out the Houston Astros through the fourth. Chris Tillman replaced him as scheduled. Britton allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two. By my unofficial count, he threw 57 pitches, including 38 for strikes. Britton's pace was slow in the first, when he walked Oswaldo Navarro with one out and gave up a single to Carlos Lee. But Jason Michaels grounded into a 6-4-3 double...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ryan Adams was in the Orioles' original lineup today as the starting second baseman. Brandon Harris replaced him in the second lineup. Adam was re-inserted in the third lineup. Good idea to play him today. Adams gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a double to right field off Houston's J.A. Happ that scored Brandon Snyder, who also doubled. Adams initially slowed up at first before racing to second ahead of the throw. Robert Andino, batting leadoff,...

KiSSIMMEE, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters was excused from making the trip today because of a tender thumb. He could play if this game meant anything. The club is just giving him a break. Also, first baseman Joe Mahoney was scratched after tweaking his hamstring yesterday on the basepaths. Infielder Cesar Izturis didn't make the trip because he played yesterday after being sidelined with a sore ankle. Second baseman Brian Roberts is scheduled to have an MRI on his back later this...