O's alter rotation looking toward Means' return and the stretch run

ANAHEIM – The Orioles are tweaking their rotation before the series with Red Sox that begins Friday night at Fenway Park. Had they stayed on turn after tomorrow’s off day with their current six-man, they would have thrown Cole Irvin Friday, then Kyle Bradish Saturday and Jack Flaherty on Sunday against the Red Sox.

But manager Brandon Hyde said today it will be Bradish in the Boston series opener, Flaherty next and Grayson Rodriguez Sunday in the series finale in Boston. Irvin is moving to the bullpen for now.

“We’ve put Cole in the ‘pen. He was in the bullpen last night,” Hyde said today. “He’s going to be kind of a length guy right now. Kind of get through the weekend and evaluate series-to-series right now.”

Is this a return to a five-man rotation?

“As as right now, for the weekend it is. After the weekend it might change,” he said.

This tinkering could mean that Bradish, who is 8-4 with a 2.28 ERA over his last 14 starts, could also start the Tampa Bay series opener in Baltimore a week from tomorrow. His fifth day to pitch after Friday in Boston would be next Wednesday and while he could pitch that night versus St. Louis, he also could go on the sixth day the next game versus the Rays.

Hyde said today that Cole was next up in relief last night had the game kept going past the 10^th or whenever he would have taken Shintaro Fujinami out.

Lefty John Means pitched tonight for Triple-A Norfolk at home versus Jacksonville. He went five innings allowing six hits and three runs. He threw 67 pitches and has an ERA of 2.51 in three games with the Tides.

His 30-day rehab stint ends Friday and Means should rejoin the O's soon. He could start or pitch out of the ‘pen. Hyde said he's been solid for Tides.

"The stuff has been good and has been continuing to get better,” he said. “The next step is really going to get major league hitters out. And Meansy has been in the big leagues for a few years. He understands obviously what the process is. He’s going to have a lot of nerves and be super excited whenever that day comes.”

After his outing tonight, Means’ fifth day to pitch as a starter would be Monday, so he could go sometime in the St. Louis series. Unless he pitched sooner out of the bullpen.

Hyde acknowledged today that, yes, of course, the team may be lining up its pitching to not only face the Rays but to give them their best chance in that series and best chance beyond to win the AL East.

“We are looking ahead with our rotation," he said. "We’ve got Cole who has done a nice job. We’ve got Means making his last start today. We have an off day tomorrow and can play with things a little bit. We thought for the short term putting Cole in the bullpen allows us to have a long guy, which we really don’t have. We’ll see after next series."

“You do try to give yourself the best opportunity. So, when the season is coming to the last 20-plus games or so, you start looking ahead a little bit trying to line guys up the best way you can.”

Mountcastle’s return: The Orioles Ryan Mountcastle missed the first two games of this road trip with an illness. He was scratched for Friday’s road trip opener at Arionza and missed Saturday’s game as well.

But after returning to the lineup and going hitless Sunday, he is 5-for-9 with two RBIs in the last two games. He’s now hitting .278 with an .801 OPS for the year.

“Feel good, feel healthy, ready to go. Back on track,” Mountcastle said today. “I was just under the weather for a couple of days. Second day I was feeling pretty good and was available off the bench. Just wanted to take it easy, see how the game played out. Didn’t have to get in there. Next day felt good and ready to go now.”

Mountcastle, in 45 games since returning from vertigo on July 9 has hit .359 with seven homers, 28 RBIs and an OPS of .978.

“Just trying to get a good pitch to hit each and every at-bat," he said. "Try to have a good game plan going into it. Just staying through the middle of the field, not trying to do too much. Move the guy over or just get on base any way you can.”

Mountcastle echoed an opinion that others in the clubhouse have voiced about trying to hold off the Rays for first place. By not worrying about Tampa Bay and just focusing on the game in front of them that night, the Orioles have been able to keep winning and have maintained their lead over Tampa Bay.

“I think we are all just focused on the day-to-day,” he said. “Come here and get our prep in and go out to win that game. Not really looking too much at the standings."

“That is just how we are all built. That is just how the game is. It’s such a long season and this time of year you start to get a little tired. So try to lock it in, try to get your body healthy and be out there every day."