Wondering how Means responds to today's start (updated)

No one should attempt to get inside John Means' head and his heart.

Certainly not today.

Means is back with the Orioles and starting this afternoon against the Nationals to close out the series. He's been transferred from the bereavement list to the injured list to the 28-man roster.

To an area that pulls him away from his privacy and from a family that's been huddled together for the last week. Propping up each other.

Baseball has been known to provide a distraction, even if it lasts only three hours. Maybe it can enable Means to feel grounded, to provide a semblance of normalcy in a life turned upside down with the passing of his father, Alan, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Or it could be too soon. We don't know.

The grieving process isn't the same for everyone. And it's much harder to relate when you're not the one standing on a major league mound with so many eyes locked on you and the media waiting to pry and make you relieve the worst experience of your life.

Means understands that it comes with the job. His and ours.

He also is aware that he's raised the bar on working through grief.

The Kansas City native had an emotional homecoming last August, pitching for the first time at Kauffman Stadium, allowing only two runs in seven innings and telling reporters gathered at his locker about his father's diagnosis. He spent five days on the family medical emergency list before turning in one of the finest outings of his rookie season.

To expect the same response today is unfair and probably unrealistic. Means suffered the worst kind of loss and now he's pitching for the first time since Aug. 4. He began the season on the injured list with arm fatigue and has made only two starts.

Means hasn't exceeded 4 2/3 innings or 72 pitches and could be restricted again after the layoff. Jorge López is in the bullpen and available for long relief.

Teammates will provide comfort, or as much as they can in social distancing. Perhaps he'll also find it on the mound. Back in his routine.

We just don't know.

Means has never faced the Nationals. Max Scherzer is 6-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.004 WHIP against the Orioles in 13 starts and has struck out 114 batters in 89 2/3 innings.

Chris Davis is 10-for-32 (.313) with a double, home run and 10 strikeouts against Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Rio Ruiz is 1-for-10 with a home run and five strikeouts.

Scherzer has made four starts this year and allowed six runs with 10 walks and 29 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. He's surrendered only one home run.

Scherzer lasted only one inning against the Mets on Aug. 5 after tweaking his hamstring.

The Orioles must make a roster move to accommodate Means.

Update: The Orioles designated reliever Chandler Shepherd for assignment. He can elect free agency if he clears waivers.