O's game blog: John Means activated to pitch series opener

After losing back-to-back games to San Diego earlier this week, the Orioles homestand continues tonight at Camden Yards. They'll host the Cleveland Indians to start a three-game series.

The Orioles (22-58) will play game No. 81 and will reach the midpoint of the season after tonight's game. They have lost 13 of 14 and 17 of the last 20 games. The Orioles are 9-30 at home and have lost seven straight at Oriole Park.

With a .315 batting average, the Orioles' Hanser Alberto ranks sixth in the American League beginning today. Over his past 20 games, Alberto is batting .405 (31-for-84) and he has seven RBIs over his past 10 games.

Left-hander John Means (6-4, 2.67 ERA) was activated today from the injured list after being out with a shoulder strain. Means last pitched on June 16 against Boston and gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings. He's allowed two earned runs or less in nine of his 12 starts.

In nine home games (seven starts) in 2019, Means is 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA and a 1.017 WHIP. While his teammates have allowed plenty of homers at Oriole Park, Means has given up just three over 39 1/3 innings. Lefty batters are hitting .190 with a .631 OPS against him and right-handed batters are hitting .247/.701.

Right-hander Mike Clevinger (1-1, 2.70 ERA) is also being activated off the IL to start tonight. Clevinger has made just three 2019 starts, two in April and one on June 17. For the year, he's pitched 16 2/3 innings allowing just five hits with seven walks, 29 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.720.

He went on the 60-day IL on April 2 with a right upper back strain. Then he returned to pitch on June 17 and suffered a left ankle sprain and was back on the IL until tonight.

In 2018, Clevinger was 13-8 with a 3.02 ERA. In 13 second-half starts, he went 6-3 with a 2.31 ERA. On April 21, 2018 in Baltimore he threw his first career shutout, pitching a two-hitter versus the Orioles.

So Cleveland today activated Clevinger and recalled infielder Yu Chang from Triple-A. Infielder José Ramírez was placed on the paternity leave list and pitcher Jon Edwards was sent to the minors.

Cleveland is 44-36 and in second place, but eight games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota. The Indians have won five of six and 15 of 21 and are 16-7 in June, holding the best record in the AL in the month. The Orioles are 4-19 this month.

Futures Game-bound: With their first-round draft picks in 2017 and 2018, the Orioles took high school pitchers. They selected prep hurlers with their top pick in consecutive years for the first time ever. Lefty DL Hall, taken No. 21 overall in 2017 and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, selected No. 11 last year, today were chosen to pitch in next month's All-Star Futures Game in Cleveland.

The game format has changed from USA against the World to American League against the National League. They'll both be on the AL squad for the game at 7 p.m. on July 7.

For Single-A Delmarva, Rodriguez is 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA. Over 57 innings, he's allowed 34 hits and just two homers with 15 walks, 78 strikeouts, an 0.86 WHIP and a .169 average against. He was the Orioles' Minor League Pitcher of the Month in April when he went 3-0 with an ERA of 0.54.

Rodriguez, 19, is the only player from the South Atlantic League to make the game and is one of just two players in low Single-A ball along with Arizona outfielder Alek Thomas. So Rodriguez will be one of the youngest players in that game.

Hall, 20, has gone 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA at Single-A Frederick. Over 48 2/3 innings, he has allowed 37 hits and just one homer with 38 walks, 73 strikeouts and a .218 average against. He has averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings, but also 7.03 walks. Hall was taken No. 21 overall out of Valdosta, Ga., in 2017.

Looking back: On this date in 1989, construction of Oriole Park began as the structures on the 85-acre lot at Camden Yards were razed. The ballpark would take 33 months to complete.

Minors roster news: At Triple-A today, right-handers Tayler Scott and Matt Wotherspoon were activated after being optioned from the Orioles. Also, right-hander Pedro Araujo was transferred to Double-A Bowie and left-hander Luis Ysla was placed on the seven-day injured list. Left-hander Sean Gilmartin cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Norfolk.