Orioles place Means on injured list for testing; Hyde talks about use of Givens; Wojciechowski’s thoughts on 2020

PHILADELPHIA—Orioles starter John Means is traveling to Baltimore after attending his father’s funeral, and he’ll have to go through the Covid-19 protocols before he can be activated.

Means was taken off the bereavement list and put on the injured list.

Thomas Eshelman, who started Saturday night in Washington, will start on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jake Arrieta.

Tommy Milone will start Friday night’s regularly scheduled game against the Nationals. That game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of Sunday’s suspended game. That game will be resumed in the top of the sixth inning with Oriole runners on first and second with out one, and the Orioles leading, 5-2.

Shortstop José Iglesias, who didn’t play on Sunday, is in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Phillies to rest his sore left quad. He is available off the bench.

The Orioles added infielder Ramon Urias to the taxi squad for this trip. Because the alternate site in Bowie is close, they didn’t feel the need to bring the five players they’re allowed.

“When you see us travel further, you’ll see us having more guys on the taxi squad,” manager Brandon Hyde said in a video conference call on Tuesday.

“We wanted to bring Ramon for depth in case something happens with one of our infielders.”

What’s happening with Givens?: Of all the Orioles’ relievers, Mychal Givens has the most experience with the team. Givens has made 288 appearances for the Orioles, but just four this year.

He has thrown four scoreless innings, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out six.

“I’m still going to use Mike in high-leverage spots,” Hyde said. “The times that I’ve used him … where I feel like is the best matchups for him. That’s usually somewhere in the middle of the order, some time when the game is tight. I’m going to continue to use him in that way.

“I feel like I have a few guys I trust with giving the ball to, and we try to match up the best way we can with [Miguel Castro] and Mike and [Cole] Sulser, who emerged this year, and Tanner Scott.

“There are some guys who I feel have pitched well in the last part of the game. We try to match up the best way we can.”

Wojciechowski on 2020: Starter Asher Wojciechowski was out of the game by the time of the Nationals’ grounds crew failed get the tarp on the field in time to prevent it from becoming soaked by a sudden storm in Washington on Sunday. It resulted in a suspended game, with the Orioles leading, 5-2.

“Definitely some disappointment,” Wojciechowski said of the Orioles’ reaction. “Not what you were expecting. It’s the way 2020 is going. Roll with the punches, and we’ll pick it up where we left off on Friday.”

Wojciechowski pitched five innings in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader last Wednesday. He threw the first 3 2/3 innings on Sunday on three days’ rest,

“I could have gone longer,” Wojciechowski said. “I definitely was feeling some fatigue in that fourth inning, and I know that the coaches could tell, at that point, I was starting to get a little fatigued.

“I liked the way I felt. I like the way I competed. It was three days’ rest, but I feel like I would rather have done short rest than have extra long rest because right now it’s still early, and we’re trying to get our rhythm.”

The 2020 season is something to get used to.

“It’s way different,” he said. “Everything other than in between the lines is different. When you’re training in between starts and your time in the clubhouse, it’s just extremely different. That’s an adjustment we all have to make.”

Because of social distancing, the Orioles have given starting pitchers the option of going home or sitting in the stands after they complete their pregame work.

“We’ve found that it’s safe and more convenient to get our work in, and go home,” Wojciechowski said. “It’s just better to not have so many bodies together.”

He tries to focus on his job is, no matter the conditions.

“Once you cross the lines, it’s still baseball,” Wojciechowski said. “On the days I’m not pitching, I definitely see the difference.”