Orioles summon John Means to Boston

BOSTON - With the Orioles scrambling to fill out their pitching staff over the final week of the season, injuries and innings limits conspiring to leave them shorthanded, the decision has been made to select left-hander John Means' contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Means has joined the team in Boston for tonight's series opener against the Red Sox.

How the Orioles intend to use Means is unknown and should be revealed later today. They haven't announced a starter for Tuesday night and Means could get the assignment or simply provide coverage in the bullpen.

Manager Buck Showalter mentioned Sean Gilmartin and Jimmy Yacabonis yesterday as options to start, which would require having someone in place to possibly consume innings later in the game.

The Orioles already have used a club-record 55 players this season and the 14 making their major league debuts ties the mark set by the 1955 team.

Means and Dillon Tate have been throwing in the fall instructional league in case the Orioles needed another arm that hasn't been idle. They need to be protected prior to the Rule 5 draft in December.

The 40-man roster is full, requiring the Orioles to make room for Means. They already moved Richard Bleier, Mark Trumbo, Pedro Araujo and Gabriel Ynoa to the 60-day disabled list.

Means, 25, was a combined 7-9 with a 3.72 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in 28 games (26 starts) between Double-A Bowie and Norfolk. He had a 3.48 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 111 1/3 innings with the Tides.

Means hasn't pitched in a game since Aug. 31 in Durham, when he allowed three earned runs in six innings.

The Orioles selected Means in the 11th round of the 2014 draft out of West Virginia.

Meanwhile, Dylan Bundy is hoping to continue his resurgence tonight with a third consecutive quality start.

Bundy has walked one batter and struck out 14 in his last two starts and his streak of home runs allowed ended at 12.

Tonight marks Bundy's fifth start against the Red Sox this season. He's 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.338 WHIP over 24 2/3 innings.

Xander Bogaerts is 9-for-29 with two doubles and two home runs lifetime versus Bundy. Andrew Benintendi is 8-for-26 with two doubles, a triple and a home run.

Mookie Betts, the favorite to be named American League Most Valuable Player, is 8-for-31 with a double and three home runs.

Red Sox right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is 2-3 with a 3.64 ERA and 1.362 WHIP in 10 games since the Rays traded him. He's 2-0 with a 5.16 ERA and 1.820 WHIP in six career starts against the Orioles, with 17 earned runs (21 total), 40 hits and 14 walks in 29 2/3 innings.

Adam Jones is 6-for-17 against Eovaldi, Caleb Joseph is 5-for-9 with a double and home run, and Chris Davis is 4-for-13 with two home runs and six strikeouts.