Robles gets first chance to lead off, starters being eased in
Robles gets first chance to lead off, starters being eased in
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
The last thing anyone should do is read much into spring training lineups, certainly the lineup on Feb. 28. And yet it's impossible to look at the Nationals lineup for today's Grapefruit League opener and not begin to infer some things. Specifically, the guys who are leading off and batting third. That would be Victor Robles and Trea Turner. Just as he suggested last week, manager Davey Martinez is going to take a look at Robles atop his lineup, a move that would allow Turner to move down...
Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
And away we go ... Yes, there's a ballgame today in Florida. The Nationals are playing the Cardinals in Jupiter, the first of 24 games on the Grapefruit League schedule. And there are a whole lot of starters playing for both clubs. Davey Martinez's lineup includes Victor Robles leading off and Trea Turner batting third (yep, they really are going to test this out this spring). It doesn't include Juan Soto, but it does feature a 4-5-6 of Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Starlin Castro. If you...
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Orioles and Pirates lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The Orioles begin their Grapefruit League schedule today with Chris Davis serving as the designated hitter and Yusniel Diaz playing left field. Cedric Mullins is leading off and playing center field. Anthony Santander is batting third and playing right. Trey Mancini is slotted one spot ahead of him in the order. Rylan Bannon gets the start at third base. Manager Brandon Hyde is starting his new double play combination of shortstop Freddy Galvis and second baseman Yolmer Sánchez. For the...
Nats ready for nine (possibly shortened) innings and fans
Nats ready for nine (possibly shortened) innings and fans
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
It's been 154 days since the Nationals last played a baseball game. Exactly 22 weeks since they wrapped up the bizarre 2020 season with a 15-5 thumping of the Mets. As was the case for the entire 60-game campaign, there were zero fans in attendance. So imagine the feeling everyone in uniform has as they wake up this morning, look at the calendar and realize they're not only going to play a ballgame today, but they're going to play it in front of fans. Yep, the 2021 Grapefruit League opens...
Wade LeBlanc wants to repay O's for having his back during injury
Wade LeBlanc wants to repay O's for having his back during injury
Steve Melewski
Orioles
When a player uses the word "disaster" as part of the description of his season, it didn't go very well, Captain Obvious might say. For lefty Wade LeBlanc, it didn't go very well in the six starts he made for the 2020 Orioles before an injury sidelined him for the season. LeBlanc, 36, recorded an ERA of 8.06 last summer with a 1.567 WHIP over 22 1/3 innings. Then his season ended on Aug. 23, when he left a start after facing four batters in the first inning at Boston. He had a stress...
Lineup speculation, pitching decisions and more
Lineup speculation, pitching decisions and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The first lineup of 2021 spring training will be posted later this morning, with Trey Mancini the only confirmed player in it. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Mancini will be the first baseman. The rest can be speculated. The Orioles are home, which usually puts more starters on the field. They had Hanser Alberto leading off and playing second base last year in the first game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mancini was in right field, Chris Davis at first base, Pedro Severino behind the plate, Dwight Smith...
After derailed 2020, Castro ready to show Nats who he is
After derailed 2020, Castro ready to show Nats who he is
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Starlin Castro is one of the most accomplished hitters in baseball, a four-time All-Star who has received votes for Rookie of the Year and MVP. He's led the National League in hits. He was on every top prospects list when he first sped through the Cubs' farm system more than a decade ago. He's 19th among all active players with 1,633 hits, and everyone ahead of him on the list has played in at least 131 more big league games than he has. Yet ask someone to name the most important members of...
Mancini playing first base in Sunday's opener (and other notes)
Mancini playing first base in Sunday's opener (and other notes)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
The first exhibition lineup posted Sunday morning by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde will include Trey Mancini at first base. The comeback has reached another important stage. Mancini missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy treatments for Stage 3 colon cancer. His final at-bats came on March 2 before he left the team. He went 4-for-14 with two RBIs in five games. "I'm going to play him at first, DH him some, especially the first couple weeks," Hyde said. "I talk...
This, that and the other
This, that and the other
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Through it all - the injuries, strikeouts, intense criticism from fans and media, reminders of a contract he couldn't live up to - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis has worked to maintain his perspective and count his blessings. They begin at home with wife Jill and daughters Ella and twins Evie and Grace. They include the people on the professional side of his life. Who prop him up when he's at his lowest. The pandemic and the isolation caused by it have tested everyone. Recent stories about...
Mentorship with Freddy Galvis and a Chris Davis take
Mentorship with Freddy Galvis and a Chris Davis take
Steve Melewski
Orioles
If they turn out to be the Orioles double-play combination, the club hopes to get solid glovework out of shortstop Freddy Galvis and second baseman Yolmer Sánchez. Galvis has been a Gold Glove finalist and Sánchez won the American League Gold Glove at second base in 2019, when he beat out the other finalists, New York's DJ LeMahieu and Houston's Jose Altuve. O's manager Brandon Hyde was asked recently about Sánchez, 28, mentoring younger players. Hyde said both Sánchez and Galvis...