Updating Orioles rotation for Rays series

The Orioles are flip-flopping their top two starters entering their series against the Rays that begins tonight at Camden Yards.

As expected, Matt Harvey is starting the opener on an extra day of rest due to yesterday's vacancy in the schedule. Left-hander John Means takes the mound Wednesday with seven days separating his outings.

Rookie Dean Kremer closes out the series Thursday afternoon before the Orioles head to D.C.

The Rays are starting right-hander Luis Patiño tonight.

Manager Brandon Hyde wants to provide extended rest for starters when possible, and the team is facing a stretch of 16 consecutive days with a game until June 3.

Means threw 113 pitches during his no-hitter in Seattle and 74 over six innings Tuesday at City Field. His 52 innings ranked 11th in the majors yesterday and seventh in the American League.

The Indians' Shane Bieber topped the majors with 59 2/3 innings.

Means has thrown a couple of bullpen sessions at Camden Yards to stay sharp. He's been a razor since last September, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts.

Cut to his two May starts, which have resulted in no runs and six hits with no walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings to lower his ERA to 1.21 and WHIP to 0.712. He's allowing only 4.7 hits per nine innings.

A normal 2020 season wouldn't have brought the level of caution that the Orioles are exhibiting this year.

What happens with the rest of the rotation this week is going to be revealed later. Jorge López's next turn comes Friday night against the Nationals, but every disappointing start raises questions about his role and whether he could shift to the bullpen as a long reliever.

Or perhaps also be pushed back.

López lasted only two innings Saturday night against the Yankees, surrendering four earned runs (five total) and six hits and watching his ERA rise to 6.35. He's worked past the fifth inning once in eight starts, but his sinker topped at 98 mph over the weekend and no one in the organization questions his arm.

Asked on Sunday about López's status in the rotation, Hyde replied, "He did a nice job in his last start against the Red Sox and his next start as of right now is going to be against Washington."

If so, it could come Friday or later in the weekend with left-handers Bruce Zimmermann and Keegan Akin on the roster.

Zimmermann was sensational in bulk relief Sunday, allowing one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings and throwing 84 pitches. He'd be working on normal rest if given Friday's start, or he could slot later in the series.

The Orioles intend to get him back into the rotation at some point after optioning him May 3.

Akin threw 50 pitches Saturday while covering 3 1/3 innings and also is being developed as a starter.

The Orioles have gone with four starters due to the numerous off-days, but the upcoming stretch requires at least five.

Adam Plutko was used as an opener Sunday and the Orioles prefer to keep him in relief, where he's able to cover multiple innings or work in high-leverage situations. Inserting him into the rotation doesn't seem to be in their plans.

The roster could undergo more changes by the weekend, complicating attempts to project what the team intends to do.

One anticipated move won't impact the rotation. Outfielder Anthony Santander should be reinstated from the injured list after going through COVID-19 protocols, a necessary step because he appeared in three games with Double-A Bowie rather than Triple-A Norfolk.

Santander no longer is on his injury rehab assignment. His activation depends on the length of the protocol process.

The Orioles returned to a three-man bench and could keep that configuration by returning outfielder Ryan McKenna to Norfolk. Pat Valaika is the lone utility player after the club optioned Ramón Urías on Sunday.

Patiño, 21, is making his fourth major league start and 16th appearance. He pitched in 11 games with the Padres last summer and was involved in the Blake Snell trade.

In 11 2/3 innings this season, Patiño has allowed two earned runs (three total) and six hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts. He worked a season-high four innings in his most recent outing against the Yankees.

Left-handed hitters are 0-for-7 against him this year.