BALTIMORE—Manager Brandon Hyde is happy to have left-hander John Means back in the Orioles’ rotation, and it looks as if right-hander Kyle Bradish will be back, too, possibly as soon as Thursday.
“I’m not going to announce the rotation plan [for] the next few days yet,” Hyde said. “Means will be in the rotation. We’re not quite there yet. We have some roster moves we have to make yet for a couple of guys.”
The Orioles haven’t announced a starter for Thursday’s 1:05 game against the Yankees. Cole Irvin would be pitching on four days’ rest.
When Bradish returns, someone will have to leave the rotation. Bradish has been on the 15-day injured list with a sprain of the right ulnar collateral ligament.
Means, whose rehab assignment is over, replaced Grayson Rodrigeuz, who went on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
“Feel great. Feel great. Ready to go,” Means said Wednesday. “Can’t wait.”
Means had Tommy John surgery just over two years ago and returned last September for four starts. His left elbow was sore, and he was not placed on the American League Division series roster. The Orioles decided to be cautious with him this spring, and he began the season on the injured list with a strained left forearm.
Although Means had an 8.68 earned-run average in six rehab starts for Triple-A Norfolk, he allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings on Sunday, his final one.
“I felt really good. I felt healthy, which is the main thing,” Means said. “Last outing really clicked, so I’m ready to go.”
With Rodriguez and Tyler Wells, who has right elbow inflammation, also on the injured list, a healthy Means is important for the Orioles.
“You’re hopeful always. Right now with pitching in general you’re just hopeful,” Hyde said. “That’s why it’s tough to be too optimistic or be too pessimistic. You don’t know what’s going to happen. When it comes to timetables and things like that, there’s setbacks and all sorts of things.
“In Means’ case, that last outing, that was a real positive, and he felt great about it, and he felt great during it. He went seven innings, and 90-something pitches. That was the real tell that he’s ready to get back in the big leagues.”
It’s been a tough past two years for the 31-year-old Means, who hopes for complete health for the rest of 2024.
“You don’t take anything for granted,” he said. “You embrace the little moments just being here with the guys, especially for a big series like this.”
Notes: Hyde said that he hadn’t talked with closer Craig Kimbrel, who left Sunday’s game with back soreness, about his availability for Wednesday night’s game. He also said that none of the starters would be in the bullpen for the game.