John Means's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (1-0) allowed three hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Means started the season on the injured list after having a setback on his surgically repaired left elbow. Means picked up his first victory of the season. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk and made his 2024 debut on Saturday against the Reds. He was stellar in Saturday's win, blanking the Reds over seven innings on 85 pitches. The 31-year-old owned a 2.66 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and a 10:4 K: BB across 23 2/3 innings in 2023. Means will look to build on Saturday's performance at his next start on Friday against the Seattle Mariners.

Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (forearm), who was activated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, will make his 2024 season debut on Saturday against the Reds in Cincinnati. Although the 31-year-old lefty has been bothered by injuries in recent seasons, he's worth a flier in mixed fantasy leagues now that he's back in Baltimore's starting rotation. The matchup in Cincinnati against the Reds in his first start isn't the greatest spot to roll him out there, but his final minor-league rehab start should have fantasy managers encouraged that he can transfer it into his first big-league start of the year. Means struck out eight over seven shutout innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. He was an All-Star for the O's back in 2019 and placed second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that season.

The Baltimore Orioles activated left-hander John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. We knew that the O's planned to activate Means at some point this week, but now it's official. The 31-year-old southpaw will take the rotation spot of the injured Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) for now, but eventually one of Albert Suarez or Cole Irvin will get booted from the rotation when right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) returns this week. It's unclear yet when Means will make his season debut for the O's. If it doesn't come in the series finale on Thursday against the New York Yankees, it should come this weekend in a series against the Reds on the road in Cincinnati. He struck out eight hitters and threw 95 pitches in his final minor-league rehab start, so Means shouldn't be limited at all from a pitch-count perspective.

The Baltimore Orioles plan to activate left-hander John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list this week to make his 2024 season debut, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear exactly what day Means will make his his return to Baltimore's starting rotation, but the best bet is on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. That wouldn't be the greatest matchup for the 31-year-old southpaw for fantasy streamers, but he did look good in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is also on track to make his season debut for the O's this week, so both Cole Irvin and Albert Suarez will soon be bumped from the team's rotation.

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (forearm) will make another minor-league rehab appearance on Sunday, and he should then join the big-league roster soon after. It's been a lengthy stint with Triple-A Norfolk for Means, who will make his sixth and final start before rejoining Baltimore's rotation to make his 2024 regular-season debut in Week 5 of fantasy baseball. He would appear set to get the ball sometime next weekend during a three-game set on the road with the Cincinnati Reds, which is a far less favorable environment for his first start off the injured list then if he were throwing at home against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Veteran right-hander Albert Suarez has launched 11 1/3 scoreless frames with nine strikeouts in two starts for the O's and will now take the hill in Sunday's tasty matchup instead, making him a strong pickup to wrap up Week 4.