Lineups: Nats vs. Yankees in Tampa
Lineups: Nats vs. Yankees in Tampa
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
TAMPA - The Nationals' spring relocation from Viera to West Palm Beach three years ago dramatically reduced the amount of time players have to spend on buses traveling to road games. But it didn't completely eliminate long trips from the Grapefruit League schedule. Today the Nats make their longest trek of the spring, a full 204-mile jaunt across the state of Florida to Tampa, where they are scheduled to face the Yankees this afternoon. Scheduled, that is, weather permitting. There's rain...
Pedro Severino on his 2019 and the O's catcher of the future
Pedro Severino on his 2019 and the O's catcher of the future
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles might have lost 108 games last year, but for 26-year-old catcher Pedro Severino, the season was still special. He was given his first chance to play extensively in the major leagues. He was not even in the organization this time last year. He was claimed on waivers from Washington on March 23, 2019 and then made his first opening day roster. In parts of four seasons with the Nationals through 2018, Severino got a total of 282 plate appearances. In 2019 he got 341...
Can't read too much into a little bit
Can't read too much into a little bit
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Trying to detect patterns and search for clues in spring training lineups can be an exercise in futility. Roster crunches of a different sort. Calisthenics that still leave you clueless. Working up a sweat for a bigger waste. You get the picture, but maybe not the pitcher. Manager Brandon Hyde keeps batting Austin Hays in the leadoff spot, but isn't necessarily showing his hand. Hanser Alberto batted leadoff again yesterday in the other split-squad game. It's now happened...
After strong finish to 2019, Sánchez seeks fast start to 2020
After strong finish to 2019, Sánchez seeks fast start to 2020
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. - It's easy to forget now, because - like the Nationals as a whole - Aníbal Sánchez was so good from late May through late October. But you may recall that the veteran right-hander's first six weeks with the club were an abject disaster. When he took the mound on May 16 to face the Mets, Sánchez was 0-6 with a 5.27 ERA. He had allowed 69 batters to reach base in only 41 innings. A skeptic would've called his signing (two years for $19 million) a massive fail by general...
Thomas Eshelman on scoreless outing versus Boston (O's lose 12-4)
Thomas Eshelman on scoreless outing versus Boston (O's lose 12-4)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Right-hander Thomas Eshelman, one of a large number of rotation candidates in Orioles camp, made a nice first impression today. He pitched two scoreless against Boston on 19 pitches at JetBlue Park. After his outing, Eshelman said he made some winter changes and adjustments, and today provided good feedback that suggests they may work for him. "Definitely," he said outside the Baltimore clubhouse. "The slider, that is the one (Andrew) Benintendi hit (for an out) to center,...
Wind whips Means in his spring debut (Davis homers, O's lose 15-2)
Wind whips Means in his spring debut (Davis homers, O's lose 15-2)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said earlier today that he wanted two innings from John Means and for the left-hander to come out of the game "feeling good." Simple goals for the first start. "That's it," he said. He got one out of two. The most important component. Means was removed after 1 1/3 innings with his pitch count at 39. Jay Flaa inherited two Tampa Bay runners and let one score on Michael Brosseau's RBI single for a 2-0 lead. A wind-blown triple by Brandon Lowe...
Strasburg to debut Friday, rotation order takes shape (Nats win)
Strasburg to debut Friday, rotation order takes shape (Nats win)
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. - Davey Martinez isn't about to announce his rotation order to begin the season. There's too much time and too many things that could happen to throw a wrench into his plans. But with all of the regular starters now lined up here in Florida, it's not hard to extrapolate things out and see how it all projects for March 26 and beyond. The key revelations that came today from the Nationals manager: Stephen Strasburg will make his spring debut Friday against the Rays after throwing...
Notes on Wojciechowski, Mullins, Hays and more
Notes on Wojciechowski, Mullins, Hays and more
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - With the blister on his right middle finger healed, Orioles pitcher Asher Wojciechowski will start Wednesday afternoon's game against the Braves in Sarasota rather than be confined to simulated action on a back field. The live hitters will play for an actual opponent. Wojciechowski arrived at the complex this morning expecting to have his debut start pushed back, but manager Brandon Hyde announced a change in plans. "That was just in the last hour," said manager Brandon...
Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. - Spring training lineups don't always resemble regular season lineups. And today presents the perfect reminder of that. Eric Thames is leading off for the Nationals against the Cardinals, with Kurt Suzuki batting second. Has Davey Martinez lost his mind? No. This is simply a way to get two veterans two quick at-bats and then let them head home. You won't be seeing this 1-2 combo at any point during the regular season. We'll also see Howie Kendrick batting behind Juan Soto, a...
A few injury and illness updates
A few injury and illness updates
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. - Asher Wojciechowski is being withheld from exhibition games due to a blister on his right middle finger. However, it isn't keeping him off the mound. Wojciechowski will throw a simulated game Wednesday morning on one of the back fields. The Orioles want him to work two innings. "It's all good. They're just being cautious," he said. "They want me to pitch in a controlled environment with the blister that popped up last week, but it's healed completely. We're just making...