SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles left-hander Wade LeBlanc will try to go two innings this afternoon, as Chandler Shepherd and Ty Blach did yesterday in North Port. Manager Brandon Hyde has watched the left-hander in bullpen and live batting practice sessions, but today's game provides a truer evaluation. "He's just a veteran guy that knows how to pitch, that can command pitches," Hyde said. "He's had a good changeup and a good cutter for years. His first outing in a game and I'm sure he's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Stevie Wilkerson is in center field this afternoon for the Orioles' home opener against the Red Sox. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing second base. Catcher Pedro Severino is batting cleanup. Shortstop José Iglesias is making his debut. For the Orioles Hanser Alberto 2B Trey Mancini RF Chris Davis 1B Pedro Severino C Dwight Smith Jr. LF José Iglesias SS Rio Ruiz 3B Stevie Wilkerson CF Cedric Mullins DH Wade LeBlanc LHP Alex Cobb starts against the Phillies Monday...

NORTH PORT, Fla. - Left-hander John Means is going to start one of Tuesday's split-squad games, when the Orioles host the Rays and travel to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. He won't be shielded from a division opponent in the first week of the exhibition schedule. The Orioles are known to send pitchers to Twin Lakes Park or arrange simulated games as an alternative. "It's definitely not ideal," manager Brandon Hyde said. "But our guys are only going to go a couple of innings, so I'm not...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Andrew Velazquez has reported to the Orioles' spring training complex, taking Richard Ureña's 40-man roster spot and his locker. Velazquez, who's wearing No. 88, joins the utility competition. Chandler Shepherd found out yesterday that he'd get the start in Saturday's exhibition opener against the Braves in North Port. Félix Hernández is starting for Atlanta. "I knew coming into camp that I was going to have some opportunities to throw," Shepherd said....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chandler Shepherd is starting Saturday's exhibition opener against the Braves in North Port, marking the end of the workout grind and moving spring training into its next phase. Left-hander Ty Blach will follow Shepherd, who's supposed to work two innings. "He's one of the guys that we're stretching out and it just kind of fell on that day," said manager Brandon Hyde, who shared his decision with the media. "See him go a couple innings." Shepherd started the final game...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Utility competitions generally do not elicit much excitement and drama in a spring training camp. The backup infielder ranks pretty low on the meter. More yawns than yippees. The Orioles, however, are turning the battles into a game show of sorts - but without the car or jet skis as a grand prize. Richard Ureña had been deemed a favorite to break camp on March 23 until the Orioles designated him for assignment yesterday. Another mock roster goes into the shredder. Pat...

When it comes to the start of spring training games for the Orioles this Saturday, fans and reporters alike will begin tracking the chase for rotation spots. Is Alex Cobb healthy? Who will join him and John Means in the rotation? There are other areas in camp where there will be competition for a spot or spots. One area that is probably not going to garner a lot of media or fan attention is the battle to be the club's utility infielder. Or maybe they expand that to a super utility type as a...