Taking another look at Matt Harvey's situation with Orioles

If the Orioles stick with their five-man rotation through a grueling stretch that doesn't bring an off-day until July 1, Matt Harvey would take his next turn Friday night in Buffalo.

He'll be opposed by Josh Allen.

But seriously, Harvey is lined up to face the Blue Jays in the second game of the series while a segment of the fan base - impossible to measure because the loudest dissenters tend to post more regularly on social media - wonder why he's still in the rotation. Or the organization.

Here's my latest take on Harvey:

He still isn't blocking anyone who's viewed within the organization as ready and deserving of a rotation spot.

On the same day that Thomas Eshelman had his contract selected from Triple-A Norfolk, left-hander Zac Lowther took the mound for the Tides on his scheduled turn. Lowther was the easier move, being on the 40-man roster, but the Orioles must want him to stay away from the shuttle for a while and focus on his development.

Alexander Wells didn't pitch in spring training because of a strained oblique. He was cruising through June until Sunday, when he allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Not ready.

Kyle Bradish made his first three starts with Double-A Bowie before joining Norfolk. Kevin Smith has made one Triple-A start. Also, not ready.

The popular rant that a replacement "couldn't do any worse" isn't a solution. Replacing one problem with another isn't a solution, or very smart if it has a negative impact on a young pitcher.

Give me better than "couldn't do any worse."

Manager Brandon Hyde is growing more tempted to try Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells as a starter, but he also appreciates the value that the right-hander brings with his emergence as a multi-inning, high-leverage reliever.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul, an especially risky move with so many relievers going through periods of ineffectiveness, to put it nicely.

Besides, if Wells is destined for the rotation, the Orioles could switch Jorge López's role and perhaps get more use out of him as a one-turn-through-the-order reliever or ninth-inning guy with his upper-90s fastball. Also a favorite argument of fans.

John Means and Bruce Zimmermann are on the injured list. Harvey is healthy and, with the bar much lower, coming off his best outing in quite a while. And any stretch of success could tempt a contender to inquire about him next month.

The Orioles still could move him to the bullpen or release him later in the summer. They've never been committed to a full season on the roster or in the rotation. But the timing doesn't make sense, even with his ERA in dire need of an anti-inflammatory.

At least wait until everyone is healthy again or there's a real alternative instead of someone who "couldn't do any worse."

Harvey is a high-profile target, but show me a starter on this team besides Means who has provided length with consistency.

Zimmermann came the closest by completing five innings in his last four outings before the injury, though he didn't get through the sixth. This is how perceptions change. Mid-game exits are celebrated here.

Keegan Akin worked a career-high 5 2/3 innings heading into last night's start, when he was done after four-plus. Dean Kremer completed the sixth in his most recent start, holding the Blue Jays to two runs before the bullpen collapse, but had gone 5 1/3, four, three, five and five prior to that outing and made a stop at Norfolk.

Even a peek into the sixth is applauded, especially coming from pitchers who remain in the learning stages at the major league level.

López finished the sixth in back-to-back starts to close out May, then lasted five, 4 2/3 and 4 1/3. He was removed after two innings on May 15 and failed to complete the fifth inning in five of his first six games.

Harvey isn't keeping the Orioles from qualifying for the playoffs. The 2014 team might have designated him for assignment. Same with the other contenders under the former regime. Ubaldo Jiménez had a much longer leash due to his contract. But it's 2021 and the operation is run differently in a rebuild.

The Orioles truly wish that Harvey's ineffective starts were the biggest issue and came with a simple solution.

They are not. They do not.