Updates on Sunday starter, Means, Tate and more

The Orioles are waiting to announce Sunday afternoon's starter, whether it's a reliever coming out of their bullpen or perhaps a pitcher down at Triple-A Norfolk. They'll offer confirmation after tonight's game.

Manager Brandon Hyde said there probably will be a roster move later tonight.

They could recall, for example, left-hander Bruce Zimmermann and return him to the rotation. Zimmermann hasn't pitched since working three innings for the Tides on May 8 and allowing a two-run homer to Jacksonville's Lewin Díaz.

The Orioles optioned Zimmermann on May 3.and recalled reliever Isaac Mattson.

Another possibility to start is left-hander Keegan Akin, who retired the side in order in the sixth inning of Wednesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field. He'd be in play if the Orioles don't use him in relief.

"We're going to see how the game plays out tonight," Hyde said in his Zoom call. "It'll be a starter or a bullpen game. We're not sure which one we're going to go with yet."

This is usually the case when the Orioles need a spot starter or have an opening in the rotation.

The Orioles are pushing back left-hander John Means to Wednesday against the Rays at Camden Yards, which gives him seven days of rest. The club is off Monday and apparently will leapfrog Matt Harvey over Means Tuesday night, though they haven't posted their starters for the Rays series.

Means threw 113 pitches during his no-hitter in Seattle and 74 over six innings at Citi Field. He's started on six days or more of rest in 11 games and gone 5-2 with a 4.02 ERA and 0.857 WHIP in 53 2/3 innings.

"I think anytime we're going to have the ability to give our guys extra days we're going to," Hyde said.

"We've talked a lot about last year being an unusual year, managing a workload this year. John's thrown a ton of innings (52) so far this year already, he's coming off a nine-inning no-hitter and then (six) days later throwing six innings, which we were trying to manage a little bit, not overextend him that next start. But we'll also have this off-day Monday, we've got a lot of games in a row where everybody is going to be on regular rest, probably, and so we just felt like this was a good time to push him back a couple days before this long stretch with our next off-day not being until June 3."

The careful handling of pitchers following a 60-game season isn't confined to the Orioles, and Hyde noted that Means was "very receptive" to the adjustment.

"I don't think it's going to be unusual around the league," Hyde said. "I think you're seeing everybody push guys back and give guys extra rest here and there when necessary, especially this first half."

Hyde also said reliever Dillon Tate's left hamstring is feeling better and he's back on the mound.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the media that shortstop Gleyber Torres is still positive for COVID-19.

For the Yankees
DJ LeMahieu 2B
Luke Voit 1B
Aaron Judge DH
Gio Urshela 3B
Gary Sánchez C
Brett Gardner CF
Clint Frazier RF
Miguel Andújar LF
Tyler Wade SS

Domingo Germán RHP