Hyde on Means, Tate, Eshelman and contending

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde usually knows what to expect from starter John Means. There's a certain comfort in the reliability, the innings that are consumed and the chance given to produce a win.

Today is different.

Means hasn't pitched since Aug. 4. He rejoined the team yesterday after his father, Alan, passed away following a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

"He's been going through a rough time and his in between starts routine obviously has been interrupted. We just don't know what we're going to get out of him today," Hyde said in his Zoom conference call with the media.

"We were so happy to see him yesterday. It was good to see a smile on his face and our guys welcomed him back with open arms. Obviously, we feel for him and his family and he's been going through, and still is, a really rough time. So it's going to be fun to see him back out there today, but I really have no idea how long he can go."

Reliever Dillon Tate, who went on the injured list after being hit on the right arm by a comebacker in an intrasquad game, is facing hitters at the alternate camp in Bowie.

"Couple days ago threw an inning-plus down there," Hyde said, "so he's getting close."

Thomas Eshelman has been moved to the bullpen and is available in relief. Probably today and definitely on Monday.

The rotation hasn't been announced for the Blue Jays series that begins Monday at Camden Yards.

The Orioles begin the day four games above .500 and two behind the Yankees in the American League East. They'd be in the playoffs if the truncated season ended this afternoon, the unlikeliest of contenders.

Being a third of the way through the season can take a team from enjoying a nice start to thinking about October baseball.

Hyde and his players won't fall into that trap.

"I really don't want to lose the focus of where our mindset is right now and what it's been, which is trying to win every game, trying to win every series," Hyde said. "It's not easy. We're facing Max Scherzer today. We have 40 games to go and we're going to do our best to compete the next 40 games, and I don't want to scoreboard watch or think too far ahead. I really just want to focus on trying to win today, and then we've got the Blue Jays coming in.

"We've got a tough, tough schedule the rest of the way and we're facing some really good pitching and I want our guys to just focus on today and not worry about the games back or whatever it may be. I just want our guys to worry about what's right in front of us."

There will be a time when that mindset is adjusted.

"I think when you get into September and there's a finish line where you can kind of see the finish line. I don't think we're seeing the finish line yet," Hyde said.

"I think we wait until we get into September and kind of see where we are and then you're very, very aware. But right now we've still got 40 to go, we're still in the middle of August and we're just trying to win every game we can."

Hyde knows the feeling of champagne burning his eyes. He's felt the heat of a pennant race and lived postseason life with the Cubs. It's an experience he can share in Baltimore.

"I've learned a lot from Joe (Maddon) and his style," Hyde said. "I had never been in the postseason before before I was with Joe. One thing I got from him is just how consistent he is and how consistent he is through 162 games and understanding that there's waves throughout the season where you're playing well and you're not playing well. It doesn't matter if it's April or September. But it's coming into the clubhouse the same way with the same routine.

"One-day-at-a-time mentality. No game is bigger than the next. We're not going to try to get up for this series. We're not facing this guy where we need to get going. It's just a real consistent mindset and that's what I'm just trying to be with these guys. I'm trying to be the same if we won three in a row and if we lost three in a row. And I think that's helpful. It creates a calm in the clubhouse.

"A lot of these guys have never been two games out in the middle of August before in their careers, so I want them to feel a sense of calm and just go out and play."

For the Nationals
Trea Turner SS
Juan Soto LF
Asdrúbal Cabrera 1B
Kurt Suzuki C
Carter Kieboom 3B
Josh Harrison DH
Victor Robles CF
Michael A. Taylor RF
Wilmer Difo 2B

Max Scherzer RHP