A sampling of Hardy and Wieters from upcoming "Babe's Birthday Bash"

A sampling of Hardy and Wieters from upcoming "Babe's Birthday Bash"
Among the more humorous social media reactions to the Orioles moving back the left field fence approximately 30 feet this season is how former shortstop J.J. Hardy would have scored standing up on Delmon Young's bases-clearing double in Game 2 of the 2014 American League Division Series against the Tigers. The loudest moment in Camden Yards history. The press box literally shook. The new dimensions would have removed the heart-pounding excitement of a close play at the plate. Hardy's...

De Los Santos to AFL Fall Stars Game; McLouth and Janssen not returning

De Los Santos to AFL Fall Stars Game; McLouth and Janssen not returning
The Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game is Saturday at Salt River Fields and high Single-A Potomac manager Tripp Keister will manage the East Division All-Stars. Keister has guided the Salt River Rafters (10-6) to a first-place showing to begin the fall campaign. He will be joined by right-hander Abel De Los Santos, who will represent the Nationals on the East squad. Anthony Rendon, Brian Goodwin, Bryce Harper, Derek Norris, Stephen Strasburg and Drew Storen have represented the Nationals in...

Span gets day off with back tightness, Roark shines at Potomac

Span gets day off with back tightness, Roark shines at Potomac
Center fielder Denard Span is not in the lineup tonight. The Nationals put left fielder Jayson Werth back in the leadoff role for Thursday night's series finale against the San Diego Padres. Manager Matt Williams said it was nothing serious for Span, who has been on the disabled list already twice this season and has had recurring issues with his back. Instead, it is just a day off because of what Span told Williams this morning. "Yesterday, coming in, he was a little bit tight (and) loosened...

Nationals acquire David Carpenter for bullpen support

Nationals acquire David Carpenter for bullpen support
In hopes of bolstering the backend of their bullpen, the Nationals made a move by acquiring right-hander David Carpenter from the New York Yankees this morning in exchange for minor league infielder Tony Renda. The 29-year-old Carpenter pitched to a 4.82 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in 22 appearances for the Yankees this year. He was designated for assignment by New York on June 3. Carpenter has compiled an 11-11 record with a 3.73 ERA in five seasons with Astros, Blue Jays, Braves and Yankees....

Williams updates injury rehabs, including Span and Rendon

Williams updates injury rehabs, including Span and Rendon
Nationals manager Matt Williams had updates on all the injured players looking to come back off the disabled list during his pregame briefing with the media this afternoon. On right-hander Casey Janssen, who is out with right shoulder inflammation: "Good. He's on his throwing program. It's a build-up of course. Being shut down and taking care of it for a while. We have to build him back up, so it's a normal spring training-type situation where he'll throw and build that arm strength....

Guys getting second chances have panned out well for resurgent O's

Guys getting second chances have panned out well for resurgent O's
In two of the last three seasons, the Orioles have made a trip to the postseason, thanks in part to a players, including Nate McLouth, Miguel Gonzalez and Steve Pearce, coming to Baltimore looking for a second chance to establish their careers. This season, the Orioles hope to win again following similar resurging story lines. Three players - Ubaldo Jimenez, Everth Cabrera and Travis Snider - who have come to Baltimore to re-establish themselves are likely to play key roles as the Orioles take...

After Rendon's second MRI, Williams says opening day is "in jeopardy"

After Rendon's second MRI, Williams says opening day is "in jeopardy"
JUPITER, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams is concerned Anthony Rendon will not be ready for the beginning of the season after revealing that his third baseman underwent a second MRI exam on his sprained left MCL yesterday. Rendon has not played since injuring the knee while making a brilliant stop against the Braves on March 9. The Mets come to Nationals Park in just 13 days for the official start of the 2015 season. Williams' optimism for Rendon's availability is fading quickly. "I...

Nate McLouth's availability for opening day "in jeopardy"

Nate McLouth's availability for opening day "in jeopardy"
KISSSIMMEE, Fla. - Nate McLouth's recovery from left shoulder surgery last August is taking a bit longer than expected. The outfielder has not fully participated because of limitations the procedure placed on his throwing shoulder. Nationals manager Matt Williams worked him into two games last week as a designated hitter. However, lingering shoulder soreness led to McLouth being scratched from last Saturday's lineup and he hasn't returned since leaving his availability for the start of the...

Williams isn't concerned with Roark, Werth to see minor league game action tomorrow

Williams isn't concerned with Roark, Werth to see minor league game action tomorrow
VIERA, Fla. - It's hard to say anyone in the Nationals organization has been negatively affected by the offseason signing of right-hander Max Scherzer. But coming off a season where he went 15-10 with a sterling 2.85 ERA as a starter, it appears righty Tanner Roark will get bumped from the rotation due to Scherzer's arrival. Manager Matt Williams continues to say that Roark is preparing as a starter during spring training, although he's made only one start and that was on the road in a...

Gonzalez surprisingly happy, Werth hits for first time this spring

Gonzalez surprisingly happy, Werth hits for first time this spring
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams has seen enough of injuries lately, so there was some immediate cause for concern in the third inning of today's game at Space Coast Stadium when starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez landed awkwardly after jumping and attempting to reach a hard hit ball by the Marlins' Marcell Ozuna. Williams and Nats pitching coach Steve McCatty immediately came out of the dugout to check on Gonzalez. "I tried to do the jump man logo and catch the ball in the end zone...

Cole is shaky, while Taylor delivers

Cole is shaky, while Taylor delivers
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A.J. Cole labored through 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Curtis Granderson slammed a full-count fastball over the left field wall to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first. David Wright and Michael Cuddyer followed with singles and Cole then walked Daniel Murphy to load the bases. He eventually got John Mayberry Jr. to hit into an inning-ending double play. After another walk and a single by Juan Lagares in the second, Cole's days was done,...

McLouth makes first start, good test for Espinosa (with Nats-Mets lineups)

McLouth makes first start, good test for Espinosa (with Nats-Mets lineups)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLA. - Nate McLouth makes his first start of the spring today, leading off as the designated hitter. McLouth received two at-bats in yesterday's game, going 1-for-2 with a single. Nationals manager Matt Williams said McLouth won't play in the field until sometime next week as he continues on a throwing program while recovering from shoulder surgery. Hitting second, Danny Espinosa should get at least two at-bats from the right side of the plate against Mets right-handed starter...

Difo makes his mark, while Storen and McLouth make spring debuts

Difo makes his mark, while Storen and McLouth make spring debuts
VIERA, Fla. - Jordan Zimmermann took the hill for his second outing of the Grapefruit League season on Wednesday. The Tigers managed a run on two hits against Zimmermann, who also added four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work. "I was attacking and trying to get ahead with the fastball," said Zimmermann. "The last outing, I wasn't able to do that, but this one, for the most part, it was right where I wanted it to be. I threw a couple good sliders, a 3-2 curveball that was good. I'm getting...

Williams on Rendon's knee with updates on Werth and McLouth

Williams on Rendon's knee with updates on Werth and McLouth
VIERA, Fla. - In Monday's game against the Braves, Anthony Rendon dove to his left, making an incredible play to field a ground ball in the hole, jumped to his feet and fired to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The result of the play was just another spring training out, albeit a spectacular one, but also a bruised left knee for Rendon. He was originally scheduled to leadoff and play third base against the Tigers today, but Nationals manager Matt Williams scratched him from the lineup this...

Williams says Span will be out four to six weeks after core surgery

Williams says Span will be out four to six weeks after core surgery
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are experiencing their first bout with adversity this spring after center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery this morning to repair a right core muscle injury. Manager Matt Williams expects Span to be sidelined for four to six weeks before he can resume any baseball activity. Span first felt the injury coming into spring training, according to Williams. "He thought that it would work itself out," Williams said. "But once he ramped it up in the first game and...

Denard Span undergoes surgery to repair core injury (updated)

Denard Span undergoes surgery to repair core injury (updated)
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals center fielder Denard Span underwent surgery this morning to repair a right core muscle injury. Manager Matt Williams will provide an update on Span's recovery timetable later this morning in his pregame meeting with the media. There's no word yet on how the injury occurred. Span is coming off hernia surgery in December. He showed up in Viera a few days early and hasn't been limited early in spring training. "I feel pretty good," Span said while celebrating his...

Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa and Nats bench

Matt Williams on Danny Espinosa and Nats bench
TAMPA, Fla. - Doug Fister takes the ball today for his first tune-up of the exhibition season. Manager Matt Williams continues his plan of all starters throwing two innings or around 45 pitches. So far, Stephen Strasburg is the only member of the Nationals rotation to even reach 40 pitches. "At this time, we're making sure that they're getting through their games and they're healthy first and foremost, and when the season starts, then we'll turn them loose and let them go out there and do...

McLouth closing in on full strength

McLouth closing in on full strength
VIERA, Fla. - Nate McLouth's first season in Washington never got on track. He was bothered by shoulder inflammation throughout much of the year, which eventually led to surgery in August to repair a torn right labrum. Before shutting it down, the veteran outfielder managed just a .173 batting average with one home run and seven RBIs in 79 games. Those numbers were the worst of McLouth's 10-year career. He earned a two-year, $10.75 million contract from the Nationals after a productive 2013...

Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury

Williams says Nats cautious as Nate McLouth returns from shoulder injury
Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth comes to spring training rehabbing an injury that ended his season prematurely in August. McLouth is recovering from a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The left-handed hitting utility outfielder is critical for a team that needs to ensure it has some offense coming from that side of the plate besides Bryce Harper and Denard Span, especially with the departure of Adam LaRoche. McLouth's value doubles with the uncertainty surrounding Jayson Werth and his own...

Williams on Span and Werth's recoveries, Treinen as a starter and apple turnovers

Williams on Span and Werth's recoveries, Treinen as a starter and apple turnovers
VIERA, Fla. - Nationals manager Matt Williams would likely be thrilled if center fielder Denard Span could replicate his 2014 season. Span batted .302 with 39 doubles and 31 stolen bases, and his 184 hits tied Philadelphia's Ben Revere for most in the National League. The hit total was a career high for Span, while his batting average was the second-best mark of his seven years in the majors. Span, who arrived at Space Coast Stadium for the spring training this morning, underwent surgery in...