Lineups: Nats vs. Mets in West Palm Beach
Lineups: Nats vs. Mets in West Palm Beach
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - In deciding to delay Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin's first starts of the spring a few days, the Nationals have opened the door for some younger pitchers to get an opportunity to take the mound for the first and second innings this week. Today, that young pitcher will be Wil Crowe, who gets the start against a Mets lineup featuring plenty of regulars. Crowe, a second-round pick in 2017, split last season between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno, where he...
Notes on Iglesias, upcoming pitchers and Bleier's outing
Notes on Iglesias, upcoming pitchers and Bleier's outing
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - José Iglesias won't say that the offseason has treated him much kinder than last winter, offering a shrug of his shoulders and a search for the right words. But there's still that trace of confusion over having to settle for a minor league contract in late February. It couldn't have been his defensive credentials, which earn the highest levels of praise. To say he carries a plus glove leaves him short of one "plus." "I don't want to say it was better. It was just...
Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Orioles lineup vs. Phillies
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Austin Hays is in center field and batting leadoff for the second time in three games, as the Orioles head to Clearwater to play the Phillies. Renato Núñez is back at third base and Ryan Mountcastle returns to left field. Austin Wynns is catching and Cedric Mullins is playing right field. Alex Cobb makes his first spring start today. For the Orioles Austin Hays CF Anthony Santander DH Renato Núñez 3B Ryan Mountcastle LF Pat Valaika 2B Dilson Herrera 1B Richie Martin...
Virginia native Snyder gets to enjoy his moment vs. Astros
Virginia native Snyder gets to enjoy his moment vs. Astros
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Brandon Snyder would be the first to admit this was nothing like what the rest of the Nationals experienced the last time they faced the Astros, when the stakes were just a bit higher. While his teammates were hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy in Houston on Oct. 30, Snyder was watching on television with a buddy at his home in Warrenton, Va. He was a member of the organization and knew all the guys who had just won the World Series, but he spent the season playing at...
Cobb eager to make today's start against Phillies
Cobb eager to make today's start against Phillies
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb greeted a visitor to his locker yesterday morning with an elbow tap instead of a handshake to lessen the chance of spreading germs. He joked about pulling the hood of his sweatshirt so far over his head that it would cover his face. Cobb has been checked for the flu because he's felt a bit under the weather and the clubhouse is beginning to resemble a carpeted Petri dish. But he expects to be on the mound this afternoon against the Phillies in Clearwater. "As of...
O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments
O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments
Steve Melewski
Orioles
Orioles bullpen right-hander Shawn Armstrong saw his performance fall off last year. Over four days in January at an O's mini-camp in Florida, the coaches had him make some changes and adjustments. He feels it has already paid off and that his progress will continue during the upcoming season. In his first four years in the big leagues, in parts of 2015 through 2018, he pitched to an ERA of 2.95 in 53 games with a WHIP of 1.138, a walk rate of 3.1 and a strikeout rate of 8.2 per every nine...
Voth succeeds, Fedde struggles in Round 1 of competition
Voth succeeds, Fedde struggles in Round 1 of competition
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Austin Voth, Joe Ross and Erick Fedde all sit next to each other in the Nationals clubhouse this spring. They all hang out together. They all want one another to do well. And yet, each knows the harsh truth: Only one of the three is going to open the season in the Nats rotation. One other is likely to get a spot in the bullpen. Which means one is destined for the minor leagues. "These two guys are my friends, and if I had it my way, I would want them on the team," Voth...
LeBlanc puts up blanks and Orioles cruise to win (updated)
LeBlanc puts up blanks and Orioles cruise to win (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - One start won't move the needle much in the Orioles rotation competition. Two innings aren't a sufficient amount to begin placing odds. Three pitchers in the crowded field wanted to make an early impression this afternoon. Left-hander Wade LeBlanc shut out the Red Sox for the first couple of frames, allowing a single to Kevin Plawecki and striking out Tommy Joseph and Marcus Wilson. Both of them looking. (The Red Sox didn't bring their A team to Sarasota. I'm not sure the B...
Wade LeBlanc on his two scoreless against Boston
Wade LeBlanc on his two scoreless against Boston
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first shot to show the Orioles he's worthy of a starting rotation spot, veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc made a good opening impression this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Two scoreless innings on 23 pitches against the Boston Red Sox. He retired six of the seven batters he faced, two on strikeouts, and pitched around a two-out single in the top of the first. LeBlanc got ahead of four of the seven hitters he faced. "For me, it's everything," he said of pitching ahead in...
Orioles outright Ureña and return him to camp roster
Orioles outright Ureña and return him to camp roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richard Ureña exited the utility competition in Orioles camp and has been dragged back into it. Just when a player thinks he's out ... The club announced that Ureña cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk. He gets an invitation to spring training that bloats the camp roster to 69 players. It was inevitable. The Orioles designated Ureña for assignment after claiming Anthony Velazquez off waivers from the Indians. Velazquez is waiting to appear in...