Orioles lose 2 starting pitchers to season-ending injuries

May 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles cap and glove sits in dugout in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles suffered a double injury blow on Friday, with a pair of starting pitchers ruled out for the rest of the season.

Orioles GM Mike Elias announced that both John Means and Tyler Wells will undergo season-ending elbow surgery in the coming days, via Roch Kubatko of MASN. The surgeries will be long-term and could even keep them out beyond the start of the 2025 season.

This is a particularly brutal blow for Means, who has made just 10 starts since the end of the 2021 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, struggled with back issues in 2023, and had his start to 2024 delayed by more forearm issues. He wound up making just four starts before going down again.

Presumably, the Orioles will look into adding more pitching prior to the trade deadline. Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Cole Irvin, and Kyle Bradish have all pitched fairly well when called upon, but more experience and depth may be targeted. That might be a tall order for a team that already needs help elsewhere as well.