Means (Tommy John) to make season debut Tuesday

BOSTON -- Sunday’s series finale at Fenway Park is one the Orioles would like to wash away.

After two rain delays totaling two hours and 10 minutes, the O’s fell, 7-3, to the Red Sox to snap a seven-game winning streak.

Luckily for Baltimore, the good news came postgame: John Means is set to make his return to the rotation in Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals at Camden Yards.

“Looking forward to [putting his name on the lineup card],” manager Brandon Hyde said. “And I know he’s excited and ready to go.”

• Games remaining: vs. STL (3), vs. TB (4), at HOU (3), at CLE (4), vs. WSH (2), vs. BOS (4)
• Standings update: The Orioles (90-52) are three games up in the American League East over the second-place Rays (88-56), who defeated the Mariners. Baltimore has the best record in the AL, meaning it would not have to play a Wild Card Series and would head to the AL Division Series as the No. 1 seed.
• Magic number: 5 for postseason

It’s been a long road back for Means, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2022. Pitchers who undergo Tommy John are typically given a return timetable of 12-18 months, putting Means’ original return at some point in July. That was pushed back after Means sustained a strain to his left teres major (a muscle in the scapula/upper-back region) while slamming medicine balls during a workout in late May.

So instead of a big league return in July, Means didn’t even return to live game action until an Aug. 10 rehab start for Double-A Bowie. Across six rehab starts between Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, Means compiled a 3.74 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 21 2/3 innings. In his final rehab outing, the left-hander allowed three runs over five innings (67 pitches) for Norfolk.

Means said he was satisfied with his rehab stint, that his “body feels good, pitches feel good,” and that he’s “ready to go.”

“I really like where [I’m] at,” Means said ahead of Sunday’s loss. “I like the way the pitches are moving and the reactions I’m getting. So I feel good about it.”

One of the club’s most valuable starters from 2019-22, Means pitched to a 3.72 ERA over that span, including his first All-Star nomination in a career-best '19 season.

Though Means’ Major League career has primarily been as a member of the rotation (65 starts in 70 appearances), whether he returned as a member of the rotation or out of the bullpen was based on the team's circumstances at the time.

Just ahead of the three-game series in Boston, Hyde switched from a six- to a five-man rotation. Kyle Bradish got the opener, followed by Jack Flaherty on Saturday. Grayson Rodriguez went 4 1/3 innings on Sunday in his shortest start since he was recalled on July 17. Dean Kremer -- who is tabbed for Monday's opener vs. St. Louis -- and Kyle Gibson round out the rotation, with Cole Irvin now in the bullpen.

Means said he didn’t have a preference which role he filled: His focus was on the bigger picture.

“I just want to win the World Series, to be honest with you,” he said Sunday.

Though on the sidelines for the Orioles’ turnaround 2023 season, Means made it a priority to be around his teammates whenever possible while rehabbing. He maintained a locker at Camden Yards and occasionally joined his team on the road. The lefty was on the club’s trip to Boston, and he threw a bullpen session at Fenway Park ahead of Saturday’s win.

“These guys are great in here,” Means said. “I mean this clubhouse, this is unbelievable. So just to be around and kind of feel the energy was important for me.”

Despite the loss on Sunday, the energy is still high for the first-place Orioles heading into their penultimate regular-season homestand. Their magic number to clinch a postseason berth is at five, and the chance to clinch their first AL East title since 2014 is in sight.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Means said of rejoining the club in the midst of a pennant race. “This is what we’ve dreamed about for a while, so I’m glad to finally feel part of it.”