Nationals minor league pitcher

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brian Matusz won't throw today after being hit on the left biceps during yesterday's simulated game. He's wearing an ice pack on his arm to reduce the inflammation, but he told reporters this morning that there's only a small bruise. No pain that should keep him from pitching Saturday. Matusz is hoping to throw tomorrow, as long as the inflammation stays down. "I feel pretty good about it today," he said. "It's not too swollen. It's a little bit black and blue....

Retire. Start a foundation. Help save lives. Work on your strike zone. One of the most beloved broadcasters of our time will be making a stop at Nationals Park on April 2. The one and only Larry King is slated to throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals host the Braves on Saturday. A die-hard baseball fan, King even penned a book about his passion for the national pastime. The 77-year-old will be appearing at Nationals Park to promote the work of his foundation, the Larry King...

The Nationals will celebrate opening day 2011 without presidential fanfare. According to a team release, the first pitch will be thrown by five flag officers representing each branch of the military. The team's military tribute will include a pregame ceremony and military children lining up to greet Nationals players on the red carpet. The ceremony is scheduled to include a flyover by the 113th Fighter Wing stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. The Nationals will also be the new home of the...

For those watching at the time, it had to be an intriguing matchup. LJ Hoes was in the batter's box and Brian Matusz on the mound. But then Hoes took a swing and one of the O's top prospects hit a liner that drilled one of the O's top pitchers in the left arm. For Hoes, it was a scary moment. He didn't want his name to get in the headlines for this. He didn't want to be the guy that hit a line drive that injured Matusz. "He was trying to get his work in," Hoes said by phone last...

The Washington Nationals today acquired right-handed pitcher Erik Davis and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Alberto Gonzalez. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Davis is 32-9 with a 3.49 ERA in 73 games/51 starts spanning three seasons in the Padres system, posting an impressive .780 winning percentage with 8.5 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (278 K/293.2 IP). The 24-year-old has...

SARASOTA, Fla. - They also played a game here today. The Orioles gave up six runs in the top of the ninth, but held on for a 14-9 win over the Tigers before 7,621, the 10th sellout at Ed Smith Stadium this spring. Ryohei Tanaka was charged with six runs in one-third of an inning. Brandon Cooney got the last two outs, though he gave up a hit and a bases-loaded walk. Good times. Justin Duchscherer threw two innings in the simulated game on Field No. 4 and didn't experience any problems with...

SARASOTA, Fla. - So, anything going on today? Brian Matusz has a pressure pad on his left biceps to reduce the swelling after an LJ Hoes line drive slammed off his arm during today's simulated game on Field No. 4. Matusz was working his second inning. He was supposed to get up six or seven times to increase his pitch count, but fate intervened again. "I was feeling good. I was starting to get in a good grove, and then L.J. came up and I threw a fastball and he hit a line drive right back...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was hit by a line drive on the left biceps in the second inning of today's simulated game at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. X-rays have not been scheduled, but the left-hander's status for the second game of the regular season against the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., is unknown. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Matusz threw 29 pitches before being hit. The game ended after that incident. Showalter said that Zach Britton, who is...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Left-hander Zach Britton knows what's coming. It isn't necessarily fair, but he's heard enough chatter to know that he's going to be optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Britton talked about today's outing, and eventually, the likelihood that he'll begin the season in the minors. "In the fourth inning, I was trying to do a little bit too much, but I was happy to minimize damage in both (the fourth and fifth) innings, and I think that's big, too," he said. "I thought that...