Orioles starter John Means has been one of the best starting pitchers in the majors this season.
The team got quite a scare when he was forced to leave against the Indians after facing just five batters June 5 with shoulder fatigue. He underwent an MRI that revealed a left shoulder strain.
Means’ timetable to return to the mound is unclear.
“It’s very, very similar to what he had in 2019, so no structural changes in his shoulder,” Orioles manager Hyde said. “It’s pretty much a sore shoulder. We’re going to shut him down for a week to 10 days and see how he responds to treatment and go from there.”
Means suffered through the same injury in 2019. He also opened the 2020 season on the IL with shoulder fatigue.
Means is 4-2 with 2.28 ERA, which ranks 12th in the majors and third in the American League among qualified starters. He also has a 0.83 WHIP, which is first in the AL.
“I don’t have long-term concerns,” Hyde said. “It is something that he dealt with to start the year last year after summer camp, and back in ’19 also — we shut him down for a couple weeks. … That’s not my area of expertise, but I would love to try to keep him healthy.
“That’s why we push him back on occasion, after the no-hitter, we pushed him back a couple of days, pushed him back a day before this last start. So I’m just waiting to see.”
Left-hander Zac Lowther replaced Means on the active roster for June 6 but was sent back down to Triple-A Norfolk after the Orioles’ 18-15 win against Cleveland.
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