Tuesday night Orioles game thread: at Yankees, 7:05

For the first half of the season, John Means was the exception to the rule that governed Orioles pitchers. He was actually good. So good, in fact, that he earned an all-expenses paid trip to Cleveland for the All-Star break. Since then, things have not been going so well for the O’s starter.

Our own Nick Cicere chronicled those trials and tribulations on the site earlier today.

Needless to say, Means is not alone on this pitching staff, especially as of late. The Orioles hurlers have been getting lit up. Over the last week, they have allowed fewer than seven runs just once. During that stretch, the team has a 1-7 record and has allowed 84 total runs, including a 23-run beating at the hands of the Houston Astros. Sure, there is an outlier in there, but the point remains that the pitching staff has not been up to snuff as of late.

Something has to give at some point, right? Means is still likely the best starter on the roster, and he’s due to turn his performance around at least a little bit. Hopefully it can happen tonight as the Orioles continue their attempt to foil the American League’s most competitive teams.

So far, it’s not going well.

Orioles lineup

1. Jonathan Villar, SS
2. Trey Mancini, DH
3. Anthony Santander, RF
4. Renato Nunez, 1B
5. Jace Peterson, LF
6. Hanser Alberto, 2B
7. Chance Sisco, C
8. Stevie Wilkerson, CF
9. Rio Ruiz, 3B

LHP John Means

Yankees lineup

1. D.J. LeMahieu, 1B
2. Aaron Judge, RF
3. Gio Urshela, 3B
4. Gary Sanchez, DH
5. Gleyber Torres
6. Didi Gregorius, SS
7. Cameron Maybin, LF
8. Austin Romine, C
9. Mike Tauchman, CF

RHP Domingo German