Means on injured list and excluded from 30-man roster

The Orioles will begin the long-awaited 2020 season without their No. 1 starter and projected closer.

John Means and Hunter Harvey have been placed on the 10-day injured list. Reliever Dillon Tate also is on the IL - with all three assignments backdated to Monday - but outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. has been activated and made the 30-man roster for Friday night's opening game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated yesterday that Means likely would start against the Marlins. However, it won't happen Monday or Tuesday in Miami.

The Orioles play the Marlins in their first home series and Means could start the July 30 game when he's eligible to be activated.

Means is working through a dead-arm period and the team is being extra-cautious with him.

Harvey's elbow soreness, which Hyde said is muscular, landed him on the IL as expected. Tate had swelling in his right elbow after being hit by a comebacker.

Outfielder Trey Mancini and infielder Richie Martin are on the 60-day injured list.

The Orioles are carrying two catchers - Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco - with Bryan Holaday on the taxi squad. Austin Wynns has been optioned to the Bowie camp site.

Notable absences from the opening day roster include utility player Dilson Herrera and pitcher César Valdez, as reported this morning. Smith's inclusion appeared to bump Herrera to the taxi squad. Valdez will report to Bowie, according to a source.

David Hess cracked the 16-man pitching staff, which also includes reliever Evan Phillips, who would have began the season on the injured list if it started March 26. His elbow healed and he made the club.

Outfielder DJ Stewart also is on the roster. Ankle surgery in October likely would have put him on the IL back in March.

Utility players Pat Valaika and Andrew Velazquez will accompany the Orioles to Boston. Valaika had his contract selected and he's on the 40-man roster.

Hess and outfielder Cedric Mullins were recalled from the Bowie camp site.

The roster is comprised of 16 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders, and five outfielders. Twelve of the 30 players were on the Orioles' 2019 opening day roster. Eight players are on the club for the first time.

Velazquez, DJ Stewart, pitchers Cody Carroll, Travis Lakins Sr., Phillips, Tanner Scott, Kohl Stewart and Cole Susler, and outfielder Austin Hays made their first opening day roster. Carroll underwent back surgery last year and didn't pitch in the majors.

The roster is reduced to 28 players on Aug. 6 and 26 on Aug. 20.

Ryan Mountcastle will work out in Bowie and await his major league debut, which is coming later in the summer. Thomas Eshelman also has been excluded from the opening day roster after impressing in camp and making Sunday's exhibition start in Philadelphia as Means' replacement.