O's formulating pitching plans for resumed game (updated)

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde hasn't decided which pitcher is going to work the bottom of the sixth inning today in the resumed game against the Nationals at Camden Yards.

Hyde will figure it out after checking on some pitchers who are taking the field for early throwing.

"We're going to make a decision following that and see how everybody feels," Hyde said during his Zoom conference call. "We've used quite a few bullpen arms here the last few days, so we're going to reconvene after the pitchers throw.

"You'll find out when the guy goes out there to the bullpen who's going to pick up the sixth inning."

Shawn Armstrong and Travis Lakins Sr. already pitched Sunday prior to the grounds crew's failure to unroll the tarp during a heavy storm in D.C. Paul Fry completed the bottom of the fifth, but he worked an inning yesterday in Philadelphia.

Asher Wojciechowski started the game and obviously isn't an option.

"We're just going to see what we have and I'm just going to try to piece it together like a normal game in the sixth inning," Hyde said. "I know who's coming up for them, I know it's going to be a bullpen arm for us.

"We're going to kind of take the temperature of our guys when they go down to play catch, see who's available. I think that's going to be quite a few guys that I'll be able to pick from, minus Armstrong and Lakins, and we're going to do a normal bullpen game like it's 5-2 and we've got two runners on in the sixth and play it like a normal game."

The 29th man for the regular game also remains a mystery. Hyde will inform the media prior to first pitch, when the Orioles go back to being the home team.

The Orioles selected the contract of pitcher Chandler Shepherd this afternoon and optioned pitcher David Hess to the alternate camp site in Bowie. Shepherd would appear to be a candidate to pitch in the first game. Otherwise, he can work in long relief later tonight if Tommy Milone makes an early exit.

Shepherd provides a fresh arm for the bullpen and he's stretched out after working as a starter at Bowie.

The 40-man roster has increased to 39 players.

Hess has appeared in three games this season, allowing a two-run homer yesterday to the Phillies' J.T. Realmuto in the eighth inning. He's surrendered five runs and 10 hits in seven innings in sporadic usage.

Shepherd appeared in five games last season and posted a 6.63 ERA and 1.526 WHIP in 19 innings.

Asked whether John Means could make Sunday's start, Hyde replied, "Maybe."

Means is on the injured list while the team awaits the results of his COVID-19 intake testing. Hyde doesn't know his status.

Eleven years ago today, Félix Pié hit for the cycle against the Angels at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 16-6.

César Izturis came within a home run of the cycle.

Update: Fry is warming in the bulpen and apparently will be on the mound for the bottom of the sixth. Kyle Finnegan will pitch for the Nationals because Sam Freeman is on the injured list.