“The Businessman” was in his office Saturday night. A familiar place where you can see why he commands ace status on a postseason bound Baltimore Orioles club.
John Means, returning from Tommy John surgery and making just his third start of the season, showed why he may be the biggest addition to the team this season.
The Orioles mired in a three-game losing streak, in need of a long start due to an overworked bullpen, a taxed offense and playing their 15th game in a 17-game consecutive stretch, turned to the lefty veteran in Cleveland against the Guardians.
As he sat in front of his locker, conversing with his catcher, James McCann, “The Businessman” was ready to put in another day at the office under some of the biggest pressure of his career.
How did Means respond?
Means put forth a magnificent outing that saw him at one point go 6.2 innings without allowing a hit. He would end with 7.1 innings of one-run, one-hit ball that was vintage of what the Orioles had come to expect prior to Means’ surgery.
He was efficient, tossing 96 pitches, with 65 going for strikes. Cleveland hit just one ball in play that exceeded 97 mph. And though garnering only six wiffs on the night, Means forced nine balls hit less than 80 mph, with five of them going in play at less than 61 mph.
“I felt good. I felt really good,” said Means. “Obviously, it’s no secret the bullpen has been taxed. So, I just really wanted to attack the zone.”
Over the previous six games, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was forced to use 32 relievers as only one starter would go more than six innings (Kyle Bradish). Means’ 7.1 innings allowed the Orioles to turn to Yennier Canó (H, 30) for 0.2 innings and Cionel Pérez (S, 3) for one inning for the save, providing the bullpen with much-needed rest.
Means would strike out four batters, the most in his three starts back, while walking only one batter. In his six rehab starts and two prior big league starts, Means had not pitched more than five innings or thrown more than 86 pitches.
Opening the game retiring the first seven batters, Means would retire 22 of the 25 batters he faced. It took a solo home run, the first of the series for either team, by Andrés Giménez to end the no-hit bid.
Another milestone achieved tonight, Means (W, 1-0) would pick up his first win since September 20, 2021, spanning more than two years to return to this moment.
“It’s fun. You can’t beat it. You can’t get this feeling anywhere else,” Means said. “To be back with this team, and after a win like that, it’s big time.”
More importantly, Means, who now has a 2.60 ERA across his three starts, would provide the Orioles a victory that would reduce their magic number to clinch the AL East division to five.
For Brandon Hyde, Means couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect time. Providing relief for the bullpen and depth for the starting pitching, the veteran left-hander is now in the middle of a postseason push that will take at least another few games to clinch a division. If things unfold properly, Means could be pitching the night the division could be clinched.
“It would have been nice to have him earlier,” Orioles catcher James McCann said. “But what he’s been able to do coming back, it’s been huge for us.”
Means could be just what the Orioles need for October. After all, John Means Business, and business is what he provides better than anyone.
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