John Means missing out on Friday’s Opening Day start for the Orioles because of arm soreness, which manager Brandon Hyde said the team would have to decide one way or another by Monday, would be an unfortunate way for this unprecedented season to begin.
It shouldn’t, however, be the kind of crisis it was when Opening Day plans were scuttled by an injury to Alex Cobb a few days before the 2019 season began.
Then, the Orioles needed to shift pitchers around and use opener Nate Karns in the second game of the season. They only had three true starters for the first week of the season, and no real alternatives in reserve.