What's next for Orioles rotation? (and other notes)

The return of Orioles rookie left-hander John Means makes life a lot easier for manager Brandon Hyde, who has four-fifths of his rotation in place. It's far from perfect, but the situation doesn't seem as dire.

The off-days on Monday and Thursday allow Hyde to tweak the rotation if he chooses, but he hasn't figured out what to do.

Andrew Cashner gets the ball this afternoon and Gabriel Ynoa closes the series, but Monday night's starter against the Rays at Tropicana Field is to be determined.

Jimmy Yacabonis could remain as the opener, using the term loosely here, but the lack of a dependable long man behind him is troublesome.

"We're going to see how it shakes out here the next couple of days," Hyde said. "Ideally I would rather not do a bullpen day because our bullpen just gets taxed so much and we still have a long way to go, but we'll see what happens."

Josh Rogers was auditioning for the role of long reliever, perhaps with a shot at starting later, but he's undergoing elbow surgery next week after getting his second opinion.

"Obviously we're in a little bit of a different situation here where we don't have five established starters and we have a lot of innings that our bullpen guys have to cover," Hyde said. "A lot of guys in our bullpen have a tough time getting through one to two innings and so it's made it really challenging this year. We're hoping that as guys develop and learn to pitch in the big leagues that they're able to get through innings a little bit easier.

"Our starters, John's going to help us being back in the rotation. He's done a nice job of getting us deep into games, so that's big having him back. But our relievers have to do a better job also of being able to not have 25-plus pitch innings. It just seems like we do that way too often."

Branden Kline threw 16 in the sixth after replacing Means, but Jordan Luplow lined into a double play to get him out of a jam. Kline threw 11 in the seventh while protecting an 8-0 lead.

The Orioles have scored first in six of their last seven games and are outscoring opponents 60-48 in the opening frame. They began last night hitting .280/.345/.528 in the first, with their .873 OPS leading the American League and ranking second in the majors.

"It's something we've done a nice job of all year is jumping out early, whether it's Jonny (Villar) or (Hanser) Alberto against left-handed pitchers," Hyde said. "Trey (Mancini's) numbers in the first inning are outrageous, so we've done a really good job of jumping out and scoring runs early in the game.

"The problem we have a lot of times is when we score we give them right back and it's something we obviously haven't been good at is shutdown innings. And that's hurt us this year."

Not last night.

Means didn't allow a run in the top of the second and the Orioles tacked on four more runs in the bottom half for an 8-0 lead.

Should he be under consideration for the All-Star Game?

"He's 7-4 with a 2.5," Hyde said. "I'll be honest with you, I haven't even seen a stat pack. I don't know where he ranks ERA and numbers-wise, but I'm sure it's up there. I think if he had started the year in the rotation and maybe didn't get his last 10-day IL stint, he'd get a little more consideration, but I do feel like he's pitching like an All-Star pitcher. He's giving us All-Star starts."

Last night marked the Orioles' largest shutout victory since Aug. 19. 2006 when they defeated the Blue Jays 15-0. They've scored at least 13 runs in shutouts six times in club history.

Here's the stunner for me: According to STATS, the Orioles hadn't scored four runs or more in each of the first two innings since Aug. 26, 1979 against the White Sox.

Today's lineup likely will include Chance Sisco again after he homered and drove in a career-high five runs last night. He's been sitting against left-handers, but the Indians are starting right-hander Zach Plesac.

Anthony Santander homered and drove in four runs and he's probably staying in the outfield today. It was made easier last night with Mancini replacing Renato Núñez as designated hitter.

"This is a production league and you've got to produce," Hyde said. "We brought them here to play them and also find out kind of what we have and give them major league experience and know that it's not easy. Both fairly young and early in their major league careers obviously. So yeah, I just want them to take the opportunity and run with it. And for the most part they've both done a nice job.

"I saw Tony's defense in spring training and he's continued that over here also. And Chance is improving behind the plate. I thought he caught a really good game. Was throwing down really good fingers, did a nice job with Means and the rest of the bullpen guys. So I think we're making progress."

Sisco was robbed of a home run in the fourth inning with Oscar Mercado's leaping catch at the fence. Otherwise, the night would have really been special.

"I was kind of laughing right after it happened," he said. "Obviously that sucks, but the guy made a really good play."

Twice optioned last year after breaking camp with the team, Sisco said his confidence is "tremendously different." It's beginning to show.

"I've talked about it all year long," he said, "how it's kind of something I focused on this offseason, not letting certain things bother me, and just coming out here and playing the game I know how to play."