More on Means tonight and what else is happening this week

Nineteen games remain for the Orioles, but it feels like the first time for John Means.

The left-hander gets back on the mound tonight, finally past his Tommy John surgery and pulled muscle in his upper back and the litany of questions about his recoveries and status. He doesn’t need to say that he’s fine starting or relieving or attempt a guess at his return date.

Means wants to start. He’s a team player and will go along with the program, but yes, he definitely wants to be in the rotation. And the return date is Sept 12, 2023.

The ovation for Means could bring down the center field roof deck bar. Windows could shatter in the warehouse. Jack Flaherty could smile.

(I kid. He’s a serious guy. It’s OK.)

The Orioles didn’t raise Means’ pitch counts in the minors to stick him in the bullpen in long relief. He convinced them that he’s healthy and able to provide some length. The rest is up to him.

Having Means on the active roster is like a post-deadline acquisition that didn’t cost anything. He could make a real impact.

"I'm happy for him, especially having a little kind of freakish setback there,” said executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias. “Looks like he’s going to be back (tonight). That’s a big thing. It's been a long time. A lot’s happened since he walked off the mound here in April of 2022. A lot has happened for us, a lot has happened for him. It's been tough for him to see the team turn the corner and be on the sidelines, and I know he's really itching to come help this team.

"In terms of impact, I think we'll see. I think we’ve got to remember he’s missed a lot of time. He's now just coming up from Triple-A. It’s probably not the norm for a guy to come back from Tommy John surgery and be dropped off into a pennant race in mid-September the way he’s being asked to do, but that’s where we’re at. I know he's excited about it. I think for us, a big part of the strategy with the pitching for the last month or so down the stretch is having the depth and the numbers to withstand whatever events are going to come our way here for the next 20 games and getting John back’s a big part of that.

“We have numerous starting pitching options. We’ve got really quality guys down in Triple-A right now and we’ve got a really good group here, and it’s kind of all hands on deck from a pitching perspective for the next 20 games and hopefully beyond. And his addition to that group is kind of what I’m focused on. I think it’s just a really nice reinforcement and I don’t want to put anything on him other than that.”

Still to come is the corresponding move to make room for Means. The 40-man roster has an opening, but a pitcher needs to leave the staff.

Guess away.

A six-man rotation, which the Orioles are maintaining, keeps Means out of the four-game series against the Rays. He’s working on an extra day’s rest after pitching Wednesday at Triple-A Norfolk.

Flaherty misses his former team beyond reconnecting on the field during batting practice. It would have been a nice story angle.

Speaking of thunderous ovations, expect to hear the same Friday night when Adam Jones retires as an Oriole. He’s back and the place will be packed. The game is sold out.

I’m sure the Rays have a little something to do with it. A big series. But No. 10 is the No. 1 attraction.

The Orioles will honor Jones in a pregame ceremony before he throws out the ceremonial first pitch. I wish Nick Markakis would come here to catch it. Thrown from center field to right.

I should have suggested this sooner.

Jones ranks fourth in Orioles history in at-bats and total bases, fifth in runs scores, home runs, RBIs and extra-base hits, seventh in doubles, eighth in hits and total games played, 10^th in triples, and tied for 10^th in stolen bases. He earned five All-Star selections, six Heart and Hustle Award nominations, four Gold Glove Awards, three Most Valuable Oriole awards and one Silver Slugger.

Otherwise, he’s forgettable.

The first 15,000 fans 15 and over receive a Jones T-shirt. So, yeah, get to the ballpark early.

Also Friday, the Orioles will honor pitcher Kyle Gibson as the team’s 2023 Roberto Clemente Award nominee – the third time that he’s gotten this recognition, including 2019 with the Twins and 2022 with the Phillies.

The Orioles and the Maryland Food Bank will host their 36^th Annual “Food and Funds Drive” all weekend. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable items and monetary donations to the ballpark, where volunteers will be on-site to collect.