Amped Soroka finds velocity in first spring start (nightcap update)
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – Michael Soroka hadn’t jogged out of his own dugout to start a game since May 12 with the White Sox. Over his last 16 appearances in 2024, he had to jog in from the bullpen as a reliever. On that day, he gave up five runs (four earned) in 5 ⅓ innings to start what would be a 7-0 loss to the Guardians, inflating his season ERA to 6.39
Speedy outfield covers a lot of ground for Nats
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – The Nationals are now known for their speed. They made a point to take advantage of their youth and the new rules that encourage basestealing to swipe a major league-best 223 bags last year. But that young speed manifests itself defensively, too. The Nats’ projected starting outfield of James Wood in left, Jacob Young in center and
Quick pregame hits before Orioles-Pirates
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Tyler O'Neill would have been in today's Orioles lineup except he's dealing with an illness, according to manager Brandon Hyde, who met with the media in Sarasota for his daily pregame dugout session. O'Neill hit a ball Thursday against the Blue Jays that cleared the concourse in left field for a three-run homer. He didn't make the trip to Fort Mye
Orioles and Pirates lineups in Sarasota
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Dylan Beavers gets the start in left field this afternoon, as the Orioles host the Pirates again. Beavers hit the go-ahead two-run homer yesterday against the Twins and is 3-for-6. Cedric Mullins is leading off. Ramón Laureano is in right field. Adley Rutschman is behind the plate. Ramón Urías remains the third baseman. Nick Gordon
Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – It’s not really spring training until you play a split-squad doubleheader. Unfortunately for the Nationals staff (and your trusty beat reporter), today features a split split-squad doubleheader with an afternoon game against the Cardinals in Jupiter followed by a night game against the Marlins in West Palm Beach. This is March. Afte
How important is Martinez's high-speed fastball?
Brendan Mortensen
Orioles
Spring is the season of dart throws. The Orioles hit a bullseye last offseason when they signed Albert Suárez to a minor league deal. Suárez hadn’t toed rubber in the majors since 2017, but became a key piece of the 2024 Orioles. The righty boasted a 3.09 ERA in eight games as a reliever and a 3.76 ERA as a starter. “Big Al” may not have been a sig
A dozen observations from Orioles spring training
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – A week of exhibition games seems like an appropriate time to share some observations before the Orioles play the Pirates this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich opposes Paul Skenes in a rematch from Spring Breakout, except this one airs on MASN. Povich went three innings and allowed two runs, but hardly anyone noticed becau
Ogasawara introduced to tough Mets lineup, Wood felt good in debut
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – When Shinnosuke Ogasawara took the mound on Sunday back in West Palm Beach, he faced a Mets lineup that wasn’t filled with everyday major leaguers for his first start on American soil. It was a relatively manageable order for him to navigate in his first taste of Grapefruit League action. In his second start this afternoon, t
Wood set to make spring debut as DH vs. Mets (plus pitching notes)
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – It’s only the first five contests of Grapefruit League play, but no team wants a star player to have to sit out game action this early in spring training. Any time one does, panic ensues and is not quelled until said player returns to the field. James Wood’s absence during the Nationals’ first week of spring training games st
Orioles and Twins lineups in Fort Myers (updated)
Roch Kubatko
Masn
SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin makes his exhibition debut this afternoon, with the Orioles traveling to Fort Myers to play the Twins. Gary Sánchez is behind the plate for Eflin. Coby Mayo gets the start at first base. Jackson Holliday is leading off and playing second base. Colton Cowser is in center field, Heston Kjerstad in left and Dylan Carlson in