Means escaped with a no-decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Diamondbacks, giving up four runs on six hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The southpaw got tagged for two runs in the third and fifth innings, but the Orioles scored in the eighth to tie up the game and take Means off the hook for his first loss before eventually walking it off in the 11th. He tossed 60 of 89 pitches for strikes, and he has a 3.09 ERA and 11:0 K:BB through his first 11.2 innings on the year. Means will look to sharpen things up on his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Mariners.
Means (1-0) earned the win in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Reds, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.
A setback with Means' surgically repaired left elbow put the southpaw on the injured list to begin the 2024 season. After an extended, six-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Means transitioned beautifully to the big-league rotation, blanking the Reds in Great American Ball Park while racking up 19 swings and misses on 85 pitches. The Cincinnati offense has been in a bad way, but regardless it was an impressive return for Means and he's fully built up heading into his next projected matchup at home against the Diamondbacks. An All-Star in 2019, Means has thrown a no-hitter in the majors and owns a 3.67 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 387.1 career innings over parts of seven seasons.
Orioles' John Means: Slated for season debut Saturday
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Means (elbow) will make his first start of the season Saturday in Cincinnati, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Means was activated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, and now the Orioles have revealed the date for the left-hander's 2024 big-league debut. While Means pitched poorly for most of his rehab assignment, he was excellent in his final outing with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, striking out eight over seven shutout innings while allowing just one hit and one walk. The southpaw got his pitch count up to 95 in that start, so he shouldn't have any workload concerns Saturday.
The Orioles reinstated Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Though manager Brandon Hyde had already noted Monday that Means was on track to rejoin the rotation for this weekend's series in Cincinnati, the Orioles activated him early since the southpaw's 30-day minor-league rehab window officially came to an end. The Orioles placed Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move, so Means' arrival means that the team should have room in the rotation for at least one of Albert Suarez and Cole Irvin, or even both pitchers if Hyde elects to go with a six-man rotation. Means struggled mightily through the first five starts of his rehab stint with Triple-A Norfolk (13.89 ERA, 2.31 WHIP in 11.2 innings), but he closed his minor-league assignment in dominant fashion Sunday, striking out eight over seven shutout innings and allowing just one hit and one walk. He tossed 95 pitches (61 strikes) in the outing and is unlikely to face any major restrictions when he makes his 2024 Orioles debut, likely Friday or Saturday.
Orioles' John Means: Slated for season debut this week
Rotowire
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde confirmed Monday that Means (forearm) will be activated from the 15-day injured list later this week and will rejoin the rotation, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Hyde didn't divulge which day Means will pitch, but he would be on regular rest for Friday's series opener in Cincinnati. Means saved his best rehab start for last, as he struck out eight while allowing just one hit and one walk over seven scoreless innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. The left-hander got his pitch count up to 95 in the outing, so he should be ready for a typical workload in his first start with the Orioles. With both Means and Kyle Bradish (elbow) set to return from the IL this week, Albert Suarez and Cole Irvin would appear most at risk of losing out on starting roles if the Orioles elect to maintain a five-man rotation.
Means (forearm) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The Orioles previously hadn't ruled out the possibility that Means' next start could come in the majors, but ultimately they've decided to give him at least one more tune-up. It's not a surprise, as the southpaw has really struggled on his rehab assignment to this point, collecting a 13.89 ERA, 2.41 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings. Means did get his pitch count up to 79 in his last outing, so he should be fully built up after Sunday's start. He could make his season debut with the Orioles as soon as May 3 in Cincinnati.
