Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach on MASN
Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in West Palm Beach on MASN
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
We've reached the final stretch at last. Two more days, two more exhibition games before the Nationals break camp and head north for good. And after Saturday's events, there suddenly isn't much left for them to decide before opening day. The swath of transactions they made during the off-day essentially set the 26-man roster. Unless they acquire another infielder or reliever before Thursday, the opening night lineup is almost certainly going include both Starlin Castro and Josh Harrison, the...
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
With Yolmer Sánchez designated for assignment yesterday, the Orioles are starting Rio Ruiz at second base for this afternoon's game against the Pirates in Sarasota. Ruiz has made two appearances at second base in the majors, no starts, and never played the position in the minors. Anthony Santander is out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive day due to soreness in his oblique area. Chance Sisco is catching today and Austin Wynns is the designated hitter in the penultimate game of spring...
The roster is still churning after a busy Saturday
The roster is still churning after a busy Saturday
Steve Melewski
Orioles
There are two games remaining in spring training. But even with so little time remaining, the Orioles roster is still in flux, as the activity on Saturday proved. The starting second baseman, Yolmer Sánchez, was designated for assignment and a pitcher not in the organization was acquired by trade, as the club added Adam Plutko from Cleveland for cash considerations. As for what we know or think we know to this point: * John Means and Matt Harvey will start the first two games, with the rest...
Yesterday's moves raise more questions about Orioles roster
Yesterday's moves raise more questions about Orioles roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The roster cuts announced on Friday night seemed to make it easier to come up with the 26 players going north for opening day, and then pandemonium struck again. The Orioles designated second baseman Yolmer Sánchez for assignment yesterday and traded for pitcher Adam Plutko. The projected lineup was destroyed. There no longer appeared to be a decision pending between utility players Pat Valaika and Ramón Urías, who potentially could share second base and bench duties. Plutko is out of...
Elias discusses trade and roster after 8-5 loss
Elias discusses trade and roster after 8-5 loss
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The search for pitching won't keep executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias glued to the waiver wire and free agent market. He resorted to a third option late this afternoon. Elias acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians for cash considerations and gave manager Brandon Hyde more innings coverage to begin the regular season. He also raised a few interesting questions that he addressed after an 8-5 loss to the Braves in North Port. Plutko can work as a starter and reliever,...
Orioles trade for Plutko and DFA Sánchez
Orioles trade for Plutko and DFA Sánchez
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Yolmer Sánchez no longer can be penciled in as the Orioles' starting second baseman on opening day. The Orioles have acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations and declared Sánchez would be designated for assignment. The 40-man roster remains full. The camp roster remains fluid. Opening day projections remain unreliable. Plutko, 29, was the Indians' 11th-round draft pick in 2013 out of UCLA who's made 50 appearances (36 starts) in the majors...
Harvey gets second start, Santander has sore side, and more
Harvey gets second start, Santander has sore side, and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Orioles veteran right-hander Matt Harvey will start the second game of the regular season April 3 in Boston. Manager Brandon Hyde announced his choice during today's Zoom call and is waiting to reveal the rest of his rotation. Harvey, whose contract was selected earlier this week, is making his final exhibition appearance Sunday afternoon against the Pirates in Sarasota. "I love telling him that he gets start No. 2. He was pumped up," Hyde said. "He's had a nice camp, he had a really good...
What's next for Nats after cuts and what Kieboom has to do
What's next for Nats after cuts and what Kieboom has to do
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
The Nationals livened up an otherwise sleepy off-day on Saturday with a swath of roster trimming that pretty much cements the 26-man roster heading into Thursday's opener. But that doesn't mean general manager Mike Rizzo's work at putting together the best possible team is over. As other major league clubs make their cuts to get down to the 26-man roster limit, Rizzo will be closely perusing the waiver wire and checking out players who have been released. Simply put, another club in a roster...
Kieboom, García headed to Triple-A after latest Nationals cuts
Kieboom, García headed to Triple-A after latest Nationals cuts
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Infielders Carter Kieboom and Luis García were optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday afternoon, as the Nationals made a series of roster moves that pretty much solidify their 26-man roster for Thursday's nationally televised home and season opener against the Mets. Also optioned to Triple-A were left-hander Sam Clay, right-hander Kyle McGowin and outfielder Yadiel Hernández. Utility men Jordy Mercer and Hernán Pérez, both of whom were in camp on minor league deals, had their...
Scherzer still working hard, right down to final spring tune-up
Scherzer still working hard, right down to final spring tune-up
Pete Kerzel
Nationals
Max Scherzer's final tune-up of spring training wasn't exactly his prototypical final Grapefruit League start. Though it happened at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, it was in a B game against an Astros lineup populated with minor leaguers and a few major league hitters. No fans were in attendance, meaning Scherzer's grunts and reactions were clearly audible, meaning the right-hander was in midseason form. By all accounts, it was a good day's work. Eighty-nine pitches over six scoreless...