Orioles' John Means placed on IL, out 'a while' with left elbow strain

According to the Nathan Ruiz of the Baltimore Sun, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Means would have further tests to determine any structural damage, but the 28-year-old starter would be out of action for "a while."

Means experienced tightness in his forearm during his start Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. He left the game as a precaution after throwing 84 pitches through four innings.

After the game, Means told MASN's Roch Kubatko that he felt tightness in his forearm when throwing curveballs in both of his starts this season. 

An 11th-round pick by the Orioles in the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft, Means is in his fifth season with Baltimore. 

In 2019, Means' first full season, he went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.135 WHIP in 31 starts. Means earned an All-Star nod and finished as runner-up to Houston's Yordan Alvarez for Rookie of the Year honors. 

Over 65 career starts, Means is 20-24 with a 3.81 ERA. and a 1.082 WHIP. 

This season, Means has posted a 3.38 ERA in two starts. He's allowed three earned runs off eight hits, with a 65% strike rate over eight innings pitched.