Bradish is back, Means is back and the pitchers are rolling in Birdland

CINCINNATI – As the Orioles watched left-hander John Means roll through seven scoreless last night, getting more swings and misses than he had since his 2021 no-hitter, they had to be excited and elated.

Here it was just May 4 and now both Kyle Bradish and Means are back. The team is 22-11 and in first place. A staff that was already pitching well added an All-Star and a pitcher that finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award vote in 2023.

In a span of three days, Bradish and Means looked as good as ever, proved they are healthy and combined to allow one run over 11 2/3 innings.

At one time, John Means Day meant a losing O’s team had something to look forward to. Now Means just wants to fit in with a first-place club and do his part.

“You know, this team is playing so well, you just want to join them, you want to feel that energy they are feeling," he said. "So to be back and be able to feel that, pretty incredible.”

His outing was pretty incredible.

A 1-2-3 first on 14 pitches. He fanned Elly De La Cruz twice. He gave up three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts. He threw 85 pitches. If there was a box, he checked it. If there was a bat, he missed it.

When he no-hit Seattle on May 4, 2021, he got 25 swings and misses, a career best. Last night, he got his most since that day with 19 whiffs on 44 swings, including 8-of-16 on his changeup and 6-of-12 on his slider. His fastball touched 93 mph, showing its normal velocity, and he simply was dominant and had it all going.

James McCann caught Means last September when he pitched 7 1/3 one-hit innings at Cleveland. McCann said the stuff was better than that last night.

“I thought a little better. I’d have to go back and look, but I feel like in Cleveland we were predominantly fastball-changeup,” he said. “I thought his slider was really good tonight. He mixed his curveball in, used it early, had a punchout on a curveball. Really using all four pitches. I know he didn’t give up any hits (one) in Cleveland, but tonight I thought stuff-wise might have been a little bit better.”

It was just over two weeks ago when Means made a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk at Jacksonville. He got just one out, gave up five runs and allowed two homers. A first-inning knockout. 

Last night, it was the Reds bats that needed rehab. They’ve scored one run this series.

“Yeah, there is something about rehab starts with me,” said Means about his struggles with the Tides. “I don’t know what it is. Wish I could tell you. But yeah, it’s something about being up here that feels comfortable, so just kind of ride with that.”

Maybe his long journey to get back, one that looked over last September only to see him have another setback, is finally over this time.

“Yeah, yeah. I definitely hope so. Just want to take it day-by-day and just try to help this team win,” said Means.

When closer Craig Kimbrel allowed three of the four batters he faced to reach in the ninth, the Reds' 2-0 deficit was only 2-1. The O’s feel-good night was teetering on the brink. But Yennier Cano came in to replace Kimbrel and saved the day.

“Unbelievable job by Cano,” said Hyde. “Once we got up by one and a groundball double play situation to end the game (was possible), for me, Yennie is a great option right on right. I was hoping that was going to happen, but he walked (Tyler) Stephenson. But he got a huge punchout after that and then a fly ball. I just felt that Yennie gave us out best opportunity at that point.”

The Orioles, who have ended a six-series losing streak versus National League Central teams, can sweep this series today.

Here is how good the pitching has been lately:

* Team ERA of 1.17 with seven runs allowed the last six games, going 5-1
* Team ERA of 2.23 the last 13 games, going 9-4
* Allowed two runs or less six straight games and nine times in the past 13 games
* Allowed one run and eight hits this series
* Rotation ERA is 1.23 the past six games and the bullpen ERA is 1.04 in that span
* Team ERA for the year of 3.38 is sixth-best in the AL
* O’s pitchers have now thrown 14 quality starts (going 10-4), they have thrown seven scoreless starts (going 7-0) and have five starts of seven innings or more (going 4-1)

“That was great,” catcher James McCann said of Means' return. “I have a lot of respect for John Means and the journey he has been through to get to this point. And he’s going to be a big part of our rotation, a big part of our team. I know I am not alone in saying we are very excited to have him back.”

And what about the roll the pitchers are on right now?

“They are coming out and they’re executing the game plans. The game plans are great right now and the execution might be even better,” McCann said.

Only once in O’s history has a team had a better 33-game start than the current 22-11, achieved nine times in club history. The 1970 team, the one that beat Cincinnati's Big Red Machine in the World Series, started 24-9 through 33 games.

The Orioles have scored just 18 runs in the last six games. But in giving up just seven runs in that span, they are 5-1.

Bradish is back. Means is back. The pitchers are rolling.