Stephen Strasburg won't miss any time with a left calf strain and will make his next start Friday on schedule. But the Nationals right-hander won't be doing it in a Grapefruit League game. Strasburg will throw four innings in a simulated game against teammates prior to the Nationals' official 6:05 p.m. exhibition against the Astros, manager Davey Martinez revealed this morning. "He says he feels fine," Martinez said during his pregame Zoom session with reporters. "But we want to make sure...

The final week of spring training is going to include four games broadcast on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network - two Orioles and two Nationals. MASN is airing the following: March 23: Orioles vs. Rays, 1:05 p.m. March 25: Orioles vs. Pirates, 6:05 p.m. March 28: Nationals vs. Cardinals, 1:05 p.m. March 29: Nationals vs. Astros, 1:05 p.m. Orioles games also can be accessed on MLB.TV. Unless there's a sudden pitching shortage, the Orioles are playing nine innings for the rest of the spring. The...

MASN will be broadcasting the Nationals' final two games of the spring later this month, the network announced today. The Nats' March 28 game against the Cardinals and March 29 Grapefruit League finale against the Astros will be televised from The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Both broadcasts begin at 1 p.m. EDT. MASN or MASN2 will again broadcast every Nationals regular-season game not picked up for national broadcast, beginning with the April 3 home game against the Mets. The April 1...

It took a little longer than expected, but today Jon Lester finally makes his Nationals spring training debut. The veteran left-hander, a key acquisition this winter, has been slotted all along as the club's No. 4 starter. But when he needed surgery to remove one of the parathyroid glands in his neck earlier this month, that schedule was delayed. The good news is, Lester is healthy and doesn't appear to have any lingering effects from the surgery. He's already faced live hitters in a...

Here's a summer activity that might interest some fans. Track the performances of Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Then stay on it through the rest of their professional careers. Rutschman is going to play for Double-A Bowie after games begin in early May. The Royals are suggesting that Witt could break camp with the team at 20 and with no experience beyond rookie ball. General manager Dayton Moore is on record as saying the team will be "very open-minded"...

Coming off an outstanding season, one that earned him the Most Valuable Oriole award even though he only played in 37 of the 60 games, Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander is now working on ways to take his game to an even higher level. In 2020, he batted .261/.315/.575 in 165 plate appearances with 13 doubles, 11 homers, 32 RBIs and an .890 OPS. His OPS was over 1.000 before his bat cooled off late in his year. A year that ended for him on Sept. 5, when he went on the injured list with a...

The math is intertwined with logic to make left-hander John Means the opening day starter for the Orioles. It just isn't official. Means held the Braves to one run and two hits tonight in four innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. He's allowed two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts in his last two appearances covering eight innings. Putting him on the mound every fifth day aligns him to pitch on April 1 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park to begin the 2021 season. Done deal. Means...

With opening day fast approaching, the Orioles pitcher who is expected to be on the mound that afternoon is very much rounding into game shape. Lefty John Means had a second straight strong tonight, retiring the first 10 batters he faced, as the Orioles faced the Atlanta Braves at Ed Smith Stadium. If Means continues to pitch every fifth day, he would line up for spring starts on March 22 and 27, then the opening game start at Boston on April 1. Tonight, Means made quick work of the Braves in...

The early news on Félix Hernández is more encouraging than his premature exit yesterday. Hernández tossed a 1-2-3 first inning against the Rays and departed with soreness in his right elbow. "He came out of the game with elbow discomfort, he still has a little bit, we're just treating him today," manager Brandon Hyde said in his Zoom call. "He was in the training room just getting treatment on his elbow this afternoon." The Orioles aren't ready to speculate on whether...

The Orioles are breaking out a lineup tonight against the Braves that could come close to duplicating the opening day order. Cedric Mullins is in center field and batting first, with Trey Mancini following at first base. Anthony Santander is in right field and Ryan Mountcastle is in left and batting cleanup. Freddy Galvis and Yolmer Sánchez form the double play combination and Rio Ruiz is starting at third base. Austin Hays is the designated hitter, which is one of many combinations this...