For the second consecutive season, John Means has been named as the Orioles Opening Day starting pitcher. Manager Brandon Hyde delivered the news to Orioles reporters in his Friday pre-game video conference. Means never actually got to pitch in the first game last year after developing fatigue in his arm late in summer camp, so this move means he’ll get a second chance to be the first pitcher lined up in the rotation.
There was not a whole lot of suspense about this move, especially once the veteran Alex Cobb was traded early last month. Means is the only remaining pitcher to combine some semblance of anticipated quality with some time with the Orioles.