Just like on the farm: Austin Wynns catches John Means tonight

When Austin Wynns catches lefty John Means tonight for the Orioles in the Detroit series finale, it will be the first time he's caught Means in the bigs this year. But far from their first time ever. Wynns caught Means' big league debut late last year at Boston and this pairing took place often on the farm.

Wynns wasn't even sure how many times he has caught Means over the years - too many to even hazard a guess - but he knows him very well and it's been a lot. This will be a comfortable pairing for pitcher and catcher.

Means (5-4, 2.96 ERA) will be making his ninth start of the year, coming off two starts that increased his ERA as he allowed six runs in 10 innings in those games against Cleveland and Colorado. But Means has allowed exactly one earned run in five of his eight starts. When asked today if Means is the biggest surprise this year, manager Brandon Hyde said he is.

Wynns today talked about getting to catch a player he came up with through the minors.

"It's very meaningful," he said. "We go way back. We've gone through our ups and downs together. We've reflected on many things and talked about many things. We talk about pitches and sequences. Means and I have a very good relationship and he can be something special for this organization."

Means has a WHIP of 1.171 and walks 2.8 per nine with seven strikeouts/nine innings. In six home games, he is 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA and 0.900 WHIP, allowing two homers over 23 1/3 innings.

Where earlier this year Means was heavy with the fastball-changeup combo, the slider has now become more of a factor. In fact, over his past three starts, he's thrown his slider and changeup almost an equal amount.

"It should be that way," said Wynns. "That is how you keep people off-balance. When people do recon on you and think, 'We'll see this and this.' No. You want to make sure you have all your pitches and throw them, I won't say all equally, but be smart. Detroit will be a challenge. But Means has done the research. We're going to have a plan and stick to it."

Of course, the changeup will be big against a team with a lot of right-handed batters. Means will face seven righty batters and one switch-hitter tonight.

"He throws it with confidence. It looks like a fastball and has some good life," said Wynns of a pitch that opponents hit .169 against.

Wynns sees Means as a better pitcher than he was a year or two ago on the farm and one that is thriving, thanks to some pitching basics.

"Command of his pitches. Confidence. He's leaving it all on the table," Wynns said. "Everyone is talking about his changeup. His changeup is definitely a huge factor. But he's got some velo as well and confidence. You have to get better or this game will kick you to the curb. What is going to separate you? He is way better now,."

The Orioles will have four homegrown players on the field tonight with Trey Mancini and DJ Stewart joining Wynns and Means. And Wynns can't wait for a day when that number begins to grow.

"It's great. The minor leagues, the grind and working together and going through the bumps in the road," he said. "We pushed each other. So it's great to see success. And also when in doubt, when we see failure, we react to it and we pick each other up. It's great to see teammates get to the highest level and perform."