Orioles split-squad lineups vs. Rays and Red Sox
Orioles split-squad lineups vs. Rays and Red Sox
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing second base again today for the Orioles' split-squad game against the Rays in Sarasota, and Austin Hays is leading off again and playing center field versus the Red Sox in Fort Myers. Ryan Mountcastle remains in left field against the Red Sox. Chance Sisco is catching Tom Eshelman. Non-roster catcher Bryan Holaday is behind the plate for John Means. Stevie Wilkerson is playing center field. Renato Núñez gets another look at third...
Baseball America Nats No. 4 prospect: RHP Wil Crowe
Baseball America Nats No. 4 prospect: RHP Wil Crowe
Byron Kerr
Nationals
The Nationals started Wil Crowe, one of their top prospects, in Monday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Mets. The right-hander (0-1) allowed a second-inning solo homer to Wilson Ramos, but pitched two innings with that one hit, one strikeout and no walks allowed in the 2-1 loss. Crowe displayed outstanding endurance in 2019 with 26 starts, between Double-A and Triple-A, going 7-10 with a 4.70 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings, just 48 walks and his WHIP at 1.33. The...
Nats could go many different ways with 26th roster spot
Nats could go many different ways with 26th roster spot
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The most significant of Major League Baseball's rule changes for the upcoming season is the three-batter minimum that will now be required for every reliever that enters a game. (With an exception granted for anyone who finishes an inning, even if it's only one batter.) Less discussed but not necessarily less significant is the addition of a 26th man to the active roster. For as far back as any of us can remember, a baseball roster consisted of 25 players. "We're...
Chris Davis: "I feel alive right now"
Chris Davis: "I feel alive right now"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis is going to be in today's Orioles lineup for the home split-squad game, again wearing white uniform pants rather than the travel grays. Along with a jersey that's gotten much tighter around his biceps. The red T-shirt that Davis slipped on after yesterday's workout clung to him like a needy friend. His arms appeared to be plotting a jail break. Davis put on 25 lbs. of "good weight," as he described it upon reporting to camp. But how? And why? What's most...
Was September surge a glimpse of the future for Trey Mancini?
Was September surge a glimpse of the future for Trey Mancini?
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' Trey Mancini has made a few general references to an adjustment he's made to his offensive approach. He's not going to get very specific, because he doesn't want opposing pitchers to get a sense of what he has done. He recently mentioned he's often aiming to hit the ball at the second baseman - essentially drive the ball to right-center - and that he might be aiming a bit over the second baseman's head to presumably help him drive the ball. He already wears...
After fiasco of 2019, Elías determined to reveal his true self
After fiasco of 2019, Elías determined to reveal his true self
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's not entirely accurate to say the Nationals never saw the real Roenis Elías last season. "We saw it," manager Davey Martinez said. "The first day. Then after that ..." This is true. Acquired from the Mariners on July 31 to help fix the Nats' major bullpen woes, Elías made his debut two nights later in Arizona, summoned by Martinez with one out in the bottom of the sixth. The lefty got David Peralta to fly out, then struck out Adam Jones. All good,...
Alex Cobb on outing, Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis (O's lose 8-7)
Alex Cobb on outing, Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis (O's lose 8-7)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
CLEARWATER, Fla. - In his first game action since late last April, Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb threw a scoreless last of the first inning today versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field. It was curious initially that he didn't pitch a second inning as planned, coming off a season when he made just three starts. But Cobb, who has been feeling ill for several days, said it was that illness and nothing else that limited him to one frame today. "I told you I wasn't feeling that good,...
Orioles who stayed back in camp engaged in cage competition
Orioles who stayed back in camp engaged in cage competition
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles completed their workout Monday morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex with rounds of batting practice against a pitching machine, the velocity dialed up but nowhere near the level of competitiveness that suggested there was more at stake than bragging rights. One ball cleared the tall fence on the Camden Yards replica field and bounced off an awning above a door to the baseball operations building. An impressive distance past the foul pole in right. Chris Davis...
Kieboom adjusting to game speed at third base (Nats lose 2-1)
Kieboom adjusting to game speed at third base (Nats lose 2-1)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - There is a month's worth of exhibition games to play, and there will be countless opportunities for Carter Kieboom to make his case to be the Nationals' opening day third baseman. What happens right now may have little to no bearing on the club's ultimate decision. But every game Kieboom plays, he is going to be scrutinized more than perhaps any other player in camp. And so the 22-year-old wasn't surprised this morning when reporters approached him to ask about his...
Pregame updates on Diaz, K. Stewart and Wojciechowski
Pregame updates on Diaz, K. Stewart and Wojciechowski
Steve Melewski
Orioles
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles have played two spring games, with a third coming today here at Spectrum Field versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Yusniel Diaz, in camp as a non-roster outfielder, has yet to play and didn't make this trip either. "Sore left shoulder," manager Brandon Hyde said of Diaz's absence. "No long-term concern. Just giving it a couple of days to let it calm down, but not concerned about it. He's anxious to get out there. He's a great kid, man. I get there early in...