Orioles lineup against Rays (and notes)

Orioles lineup against Rays (and notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Jonathan Schoop, back from the World Baseball Classic, will start at shortstop today for the Orioles in their 1:05 p.m. game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Ryan Flaherty is starting at third base. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla 2B Trayvon Robinson LF Ryan Flaherty 3B Wilson Betemit 1B Conor Jackson DH Jason Pridie RF Taylor Teagarden C Chris Dickerson CF Jonathan Schoop SS Steve Johnson RHP Notes: The travel roster today includes pitchers Jair Jurrjens, Daniel McCutchen, Adam...
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Markakis, Tillman and the Rays' lineup

Markakis, Tillman and the Rays' lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis stood at his locker this morning, held a bat and took a couple of swings. He didn't have an ice pack on his neck. So far, so good. Markakis, cleared yesterday to begin baseball activities, will hit off a tee and do some light throwing as part of a three- or four-day progression. "That's what I was hoping for," he said. "I don't know exactly what I'm going to do today, but I'll do a little bit and get reevaluated tomorrow and go from there." Markakis...
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Rotating the fifth starter candidates

Rotating the fifth starter candidates
SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's see if Steve Johnson can counterpunch Jake Arrieta's outing last night. Arrieta didn't allow a run in six innings last night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out nine batters. He hasn't been scored upon in his last 14 2/3 innings. He's struck out 16. Johnson will try to stay in the fifth starter race today against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. He figures to get their regular lineup. Why should anything come easily to him? Buck Showalter doesn't...
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Markakis cleared for baseball activities (and more from Showalter)

Markakis cleared for baseball activities (and more from Showalter)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has been cleared to begin baseball activities after consulting earlier today with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley. Markakis will hit off a tee and do some light throwing on Friday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex as part of a three- to four-day offensive progression that will lead to his first games since March 1. Manager Buck Showalter figured that Markakis could play a week's worth of games in two days. "Trust me, he is Twin Lakes...
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Arrieta keeps his scoreless streak alive (game ends 0-0)

Arrieta keeps his scoreless streak alive (game ends 0-0)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta made another strong argument for being named the No. 5 starter. Arrieta blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates on six hits over six innings tonight, walking two batters and striking out nine. He threw 88 pitches, 64 for strikes. Arrieta hasn't allowed a run in his last three starts covering 14 2/3 innings. He's permitted 11 hits and fanned 16 batters. Removing the Team Spain game, Arrieta has permitted three earned runs and 13 hits in 17 1/3...
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Valencia optioned to Norfolk (Arrieta update)

Valencia optioned to Norfolk (Arrieta update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - So much for the Orioles not making any cuts tonight. The club announced that infielder Danny Valencia has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, leaving 44 players in camp, including 12 non-roster invitees. Valencia went 10-for-31 in 17 games this spring. His only home run came in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, breaking a 7-7 tie. The Orioles purchased Valencia from the Red Sox on Nov. 28. Valencia is expected to be the primary...
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Showalter "feels good" about Reimold being ready opening day (and notes)

Showalter "feels good" about Reimold being ready opening day (and notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - It's been a light news day at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Nobody is complaining. Nolan Reimold is making another start in left field, and manager Buck Showalter remains optimistic that he will be on the 25-man roster on opening day. Reimold had been shut down with soreness in his right shoulder and later was restricted to serving as the designated hitter. "I feel good about it," Showalter said. "There's no givens. We'll see. I'm glad that he felt good taking...
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Roberts remains in the lineup

Roberts remains in the lineup
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts will play in his third consecutive game tonight, as the Orioles host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberts fouled a ball off his right ankle in the sixth inning yesterday, but he feels fine and will start at second base. Nolan Reimold is starting in left field. Adam Jones is in center and Lew Ford is in right. For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Nolan Reimold LF Russ Canzler...
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Strop talks about his WBC experience (notes added)

Strop talks about his WBC experience (notes added)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Reliever Pedro Strop flew from San Francisco to Orlando last night, slept until around noon and raced to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. "I wanted to be here so bad," he said with a big grin. Strop tossed eight scoreless innings for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and stranded two runners in the championship game. He was clutch. "It was unbelievable," he said. "I don't even know how to describe this experience. An unbelievable feeling. That's the...
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Hearing from Markakis and Gonzalez

Hearing from Markakis and Gonzalez
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis sat at his locker again today with an ice pack on the back of his neck and his T-shirt pulled over it, giving him a hunched look that is becoming quite familiar. "I'm getting tired of icing," he said. What's worse, the icing or having to talk to reporters every day? "Talking to you guys," he deadpanned. "I'll take the ice any day." Boom! Markakis was waiting to speak over the phone with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley this...
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Markakis and Strop notes, and Pirates lineup (and Roberts update)

Markakis and Strop notes, and Pirates lineup (and Roberts update)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis, sitting at his locker with another ice pack wrapped on the back of his neck, will speak with spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley later today and hopes to be cleared for baseball activities within the next day or two. Markakis said he has full range of motion in his neck and no pain. Reliever Pedro Strop is back in camp after helping the Dominican Republic win the World Baseball Classic. He flew into Florida last night, woke up a few hours ago and rushed to the...
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This, that and the other

This, that and the other
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have another home game on the agenda, and it's going to be played under the lights The Pittsburgh Pirates are traveling to Ed Smith Stadium, which means the lights will be bright. Go to their home ballpark and it's like each dugout is given a candle and a box of matches to illuminate the field. Jake Arrieta, Luis Ayala, Tommy Hunter and Troy Patton will pitch for the Orioles tonight. Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez is starting for the Pirates. Arrieta blanked the...
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Showalter on Roberts, Britton and McFarland

Showalter on Roberts, Britton and McFarland
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he already planned to remove Brian Roberts from today's game in the top of the seventh inning. It wasn't done after the second baseman fouled a ball off his right ankle. Roberts completed his at-bat before Yamaico Navarro replaced him in the field. "Everybody was getting their fourth at-bat," Showalter said. "We'll see. It was a pretty good one. I'm not going to say that was the best ball he hit today, because it wasn't the best...
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Roberts fouls ball off ankle, Britton talks about outing (O's win 6-5)

Roberts fouls ball off ankle, Britton talks about outing (O's win 6-5)
SARASOTA, Fla. - Second baseman Brian Roberts fouled a ball of his right ankle in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter out of the dugout. Roberts crouched down in obvious pain, then tried to walk it off. He stayed in the game and struck out, then was replaced by Yamaico Navarro in the top of the seventh. Showalter has removed most of his starters, so it may have been Roberts' turn to come out anyway. Darren O'Day went two...
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Disappointing start for Britton (Roberts gives O's lead)

Disappointing start for Britton (Roberts gives O's lead)
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles wanted to stretch out left-hander Zach Britton to five or six innings today. He didn't make it out of the second. Britton allowed five runs and seven hits, including a homer by Emilio Bonifacio, in 1 2/3 innings. He walked two of the first three batters he faced and struck out one before manager Buck Showalter removed him from the game. Britton threw 59 pitches, 36 for strikes, in his second-shortest outing of the spring. He went one inning in his debut on Feb....
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Orioles make three more roster cuts

Orioles make three more roster cuts
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigned pitchers Daniel Schlereth and Adam Russell to minor league camp. Exposito is on the 40-man roster, which is why he's been optioned rather than reassigned. Exposito was 8-for-21 in 14 games, with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. His work behind the plate was shaky, however, and included a catcher's interference call for using his mask to retrieve the ball. The Orioles have plenty of...
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A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter may allow infielder Jonathan Schoop to play today instead of waiting until later this week. Showalter talked about giving Schoop the day off, but he could be persuaded to change his mind. Schoop told reporters this morning that he was ready to play after flying back to Florida early this morning from the World Baseball Classic. "If he wants to play today, I'm going to play him," Showalter said. "I'm going to talk to him. We'll see. In that...
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McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview

McLouth and Robinson switch places in interview
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate McLouth told me this morning that today's plan calls for him to move back and forth from right field to a fifth-infielder position. Me: "Really??" McLouth: "No." Yeah, he got me. McLouth and Trayvon Robinson switched places in left and center field yesterday through the first six innings of the Orioles' 8-7 win over the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Manager Buck Showalter came up with the idea as a way for both players to get more comfortable with the replica...
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Schoop back in camp and ready to play

Schoop back in camp and ready to play
SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter expected Jonathan Schoop to arrive in camp at 8 a.m. this morning following the infielder's stint in the World Baseball Classic. Instead, Schoop arrived in a cab shortly before 7:30 a.m. Slightly rested, and definitely ready. Schoop said he slept on the plane - his flight arrived in Orlando early this morning - and could play today if the Orioles want to use him, but Showalter intends to give him the day off. "I'm ready to go," he...
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Reimold in left field today

Reimold in left field today
SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold has returned to left field and Adam Jones is in center for the Orioles' game against the Toronto Blue Jays today at Ed Smith Stadium. Brian Roberts is playing in back-to-back games, and he's also scheduled to start on Thursday. J.J. Hardy is serving as the designated hitter. The weather could be a factor. There's rain in the forecast. For the Orioles: Nate McLouth RF Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy DH Nolan Reimold...
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