Notes on Valdez, rotation, Means and more

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is hoping that César Valdez's extended stay on the injured list with a lower back strain did more than improve the reliever's health.

Perhaps it also provided a much-needed refresh and restart.

Valdez lost the closer's job while posting an 11.57 ERA and 2.429 WHIP in seven innings in May and a 7.71 ERA and 1.857 WHIP in seven innings last month.

"Took some time off, threw a really nice side a couple days ago," Hyde said today on his media Zoom call. "He feels healthy, feels like it recharged his batteries a little bit. We're hoping that we get the Valdey that we got in September last year here the second half of the season."

The rotation for the series against the Blue Jays that begins Tuesday at Camden Yards is listed as TBA, Matt Harvey and Keegan Akin. Toronto is starting Steven Matz, Hyun Jin Ryu and Alek Manoah.

Travis Lakins Sr. made a brief appearance in the rotation in Houston and is on the 60-day injured list with right elbow pain.

Hyde is take advantage of the opportunity to rest some players before the All-Star break, including outfielders Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander, who are available off the bench if needed. And the rotation can be reset.

The off-day on Monday provides extra rest.

Hyde hasn't gotten a health report on John Means today, only the stats from the first injury rehab start at Single-A Aberdeen. Means went two innings and threw 25 pitches, 18 for strikes. The only run and hit came on Luke Ritter's home run for the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Means didn't walk a batter and struck out two. He's expected back after the break, following a start with Double-A Bowie and one with Triple-A Norfolk, as he told MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski at Ripken Stadium.

The Orioles have lost five in a row on the Fourth of July. Cal Ripken Jr. holds the club record for home runs with four. Brooks Robinson has the most hits with 19, followed by Ripken with 17. Dennis Martinez has the most wins with three, one more than Travis Driskill and Milt Pappas.

Left-hander Alexander Wells starts tonight for Triple-A Norfolk in Charlotte.

For the Angels
David Fletcher 2B
Shohei Ohtani DH
Jared Walsh 1B
Anthony Rendon 3B
Phil Gosselin LF
José Iglesias SS
Kurt Suzuki C
Taylor Ward RF
Juan Lagares CF

Patrick Sandoval LHP