Spring Training news & notes 3/21 (updated)

*Nick Markakis will talk to spine specialist Dr. Lee Riley in hopes of being cleared to begin baseball activities in the next day or so. Markakis said the pain is gone and he has full range of motion in his neck/upper back.

*Chris Tillman will throw a bullpen session on Friday  and probably start Sunday’s game. He threw earlier this week in a Minor League game and continues to progress forward from some abdominal soreness. Brian Matusz will also start Sunday, with either him or Tillman pitching in the Minor League game.

*Pedro Strop is back in the clubhouse and strolled in with all his World Baseball Classic championship gear. Strop, part of the Dominican Republic team, got in late last night and slept until this afternoon. I’ll have more from him later, but he called the experience unbelievable and couldn’t say enough about the chemistry with his WBC teammates.

*Miguel Gonzalez threw five-plus innings at the Minor League facility at Twin Lakes Park and said he felt good. He will throw again on the 25th, but isn’t sure if that game would be a Major League one or not.
PIRATES LINEUP

Starling Marte LF
Neil Walker 2B
Andrew McCutchen CF
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Garrett Jones 1B
Russell Martin C
Travis Snider RF
Clint Barmes SS
Brad Hawpe DH

Jonathan Sanchez LHP
ORIOLES LINEUP
Brian Roberts 2B
Manny Machado 3B
Adam Jones CF
Matt Wieters C
J.J. Hardy SS
Chris Davis 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Russ Canzler DH
Lew Ford RF

Jake Arrieta RHP