Brandon Hyde on Sunday's starter and more (game update)

CLEVELAND - The Orioles won't bring a starting pitcher back on short rest after Wednesday's doubleheader in New York, so they will turn to right-hander Yefry Ramirez out of their bullpen to start the series finale here on Sunday afternoon.

Ramirez is 0-1 with an ERA of 5.14 in three games and seven innings since he was called up from Triple-A on April 29. He was 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four Norfolk starts with 24 strikeouts in 18 innings.

"Well, we need a starter. And Yefry, it's a good opportunity," manager Brandon Hyde said today. "Want to see him locate his fastball and I like the way his changeup plays, so I think that's a good matchup for him against these guys. There are a lot of proven hitters over there, so it's a challenge for sure. That's a playoff-caliber lineup and you have to move the ball around and mix speeds, like Dylan (Bundy) was doing last night."

Ramirez is certainly rested and will be pitching, in fact, with 10 days rest. He threw an inning May 8 allowing a run versus Boston. He was called into the game on May 10 but a rain delay was called and he never threw a pitch that night.

In 12 starts last season for the Orioles, he went 1-8 with an ERA of 6.92 and 1.650 WHIP. His last major league start was Sept. 29 when he gave up three runs over six innings against Houston.

Left-hander John Means gets the start today for the Orioles. For the 10th time in his 11 appearances, his catcher will be Pedro Severino. Means has a 2.51 ERA with Severino back there and .215 batting average against.

"John is throwing the ball well to Sevy. Last couple of starts they worked together really well. Kind of on the same page. Lot of success, so we're going to keep those guys together," said Hyde.

When the Orioles sent Cedric Mullins down to the minors they had an opening for a center fielder. Joey Rickard got some starts there and today Stevie Wilkerson will make his 12th major league start there. Before he was called up, Wilkerson made two starts there in Norfolk, but had never started before in the pros in center. He had played some corner outfield.

Hyde revealed today the plan to give Wilkerson some starts there came together during a conversation with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias.

"I think me and Mike were just talking it about that one night, about three days before he got here," Hyde said. "Not kidding. And we had him play a game or two down in Norfolk, then he came up. And he's been playing center field quite a bit. We were talking about a lot of things and I don't know if it was him or me that came up with it. We sent a message to Norfolk for him to get some time in center and a few days later he was here.

"I just think he's a really good athlete and he's going to make mistakes here and there. But you see the improvement. I just like the speed factor and the aggressiveness and I just think he's going to play better and better the more he is out there. It's so valuable to have a guy you can stick on the infield and play in the outfield also. It's tough to play in the middle of the field in the big leagues and for him to have the ability to do that says a lot."

In this series, he's shown his ability at the plate too. He's 4-for-8 during this series with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs. He's batting a team-leading .333 in May. Since his season debut April 22, Wilkerson leads the Orioles in extra-base hits and total bases and is second with 10 RBIs. While he is 0-for-15 against southpaws, he is batting .362 versus right-handed pitching.

"I just think he's an aggressive player," Hyde said. "Last night, he scoops that ball down way below the zone and hits it out of the ballpark. I think Stevie is up there looking to do damage and I just like the at-bats he's taking. Playing with nothing to lose and leaving it out on the field and that's fantastic."

Indians get the lead: Cleveland took a 2-1 lead to the fifth today after Jordan Luplow hit a two-run shot off Means in the last of the fourth. Cleveland fell behind 1-0 when Trey Mancini lined a homer to left in the top of the inning. It was his 10th of the year and fourth in eight games.

Fry in for Means: The lefty went five innings today allowing five hits and three runs as his ERA increased to 2.68. An RBI single in the fifth by Francisco Lindor increased Cleveland's lead to 3-1.