Davis strains back; Means struggles in first; Mullins explains hitting decision

What’s happening? – Wade LeBlanc will start for the Orioles against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida at 1:05 pm Wednesday. Drew Smyly will start for the Braves.

Dean Kremer will start against Boston on Thursday, Matt Harvey will start against Toronto in Dunedin on Friday, and Félix Hernández will start against Detroit on Saturday. Hernandez threw a two-inning simulated game on Monday.

“We’re going to continue to give them long looks,” manager Brandon Hyde said.

Mike Baumann is taking advantage of the veteran pitchers’ presence in his first major league camp.

“I think just being able to see what they do between starts,” Baumann said. “Nothing specific, but being able to watch Harvey and Hernández and [John] Means and even guys like Keegan [Akin] and Dean.”

Baumann, 25, was added to the 40-man roster in November.

“Pick and choose and see if there’s something I like, and I just listen and see what they have to offer,” he said.

What happened? Chris Davis was out because of a lower-back strain. He got hurt on a swing in Sunday’s game, Hyde said, and is listed as day-to-day.

Starter John Means allowed a run on four hits in 1 2/3 innings in the Orioles’ 4-2 loss to the Yankees in seven innings in Sarasota.

“Being a competitive person, not the best, but this is the first game of spring training,” Means said. “I was still happy with that performance.”

Taking advantage of a 2021 spring training rule, Hyde removed Means with two outs in the first and replaced him with Jay Flaa for the third out. He brought him back for a scoreless second inning.

“When I saw skip coming out, I was a little confused,” Means said. “I had no idea that that was a rule, that I could go back out.”

Cedric Mullins said Sunday that he no longer will switch-hit and will bat only left-handed. He singled in the first off left-hander Jordan Montgomery. He also tripled in the fourth for two of the Orioles’ four hits.

“The decision was mainly based on the numbers I was putting up in the minors and the time I had in the big leagues,” Mullins said. “The results showed today.”

A natural left-handed hitter, Mullins’ average as a right-hander was .147 in the major leagues.

“It was getting difficult to create two different swings,” Mullins said. “I know my left side is my natural side, so trying to develop my right-handed swing at the highest level, it was challenging. I tried to do the best I can to see if it could develop quicker. It just didn’t work out that way, so I feel that going left-on-left was the best decision.”

Mullins began switch-hitting in his senior year in high school.

Trey Mancini, who had off Monday after playing in his first game in nearly a year on Sunday, was hitless in two at-bats with a sacrifice fly.

Paul Fry allowed three runs on four hits in the third inning. César Valdez, Mickey Jannis, Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser each worked spotless innings. Valdez struck out the side in the fourth.

Some prospects saw action, including Adam Hall, Gunnar Henderson, Terrin Vavra and Jordan Westburg.

“They did fine,” Hyde said. “They’re anxious to be out there. They’ve been doing stuff with us periodically over here with us at Ed Smith Stadium in the backfields in the mornings. You’re going to see more playing time for those guys. They’re going to be coming into games … periodically throughout the spring.”’

What’s up with? Dillon Tate showed promise in the bullpen last season. In 12 games, he was 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA. He began the season on the 10-day injured list because of an elbow injury and ended it with an injury to his pinkie finger.

“He looks like the same guy,” Hyde said. “I know he had a good offseason. He’s done a lot of work, a lot of maintenance work. He healed that pinkie up. So far, he’s throwing the ball great.”

Tate is scheduled to pitch against the Braves on Wednesday.   

What’s what? In the fifth inning, Hyde gave Adley Rutschman his first game action of the spring, pairing him with Jannis, the 33-year-old knuckleballer. Rutschman has been catching Jannis in workouts at the Twin Lakes complex.

“Not an easy assignment with Mickey Jannis, Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser with his split,” Hyde said. “I thought Adley really handled it well. Going in to catch a knuckleball guy in your first inning isn’t an ideal situation and then Tanner Scott. 98 with a wipeout slider, not easy to do, either. I thought he did a great job.”

What’s the word? “These are some guys I’m going to have to get out during the season. When I saw the lineup, I was happy with that. I want some tough at-bats, get as many of them as you can in spring.”-Means on facing a Yankees lineup full of regulars.

What’s the number?  4. The number of games that Jannis and Rutschman have played above the Double-A level. Jannis pitched in four games in Triple-A in 2018 and 2019. Rutschman is expected to start the season at Double-A Bowie.

What’s the record? 0-2-1. The Orioles will play the Atlanta Braves at 1:05 pm.  If you have the MLBTV package, you can listen to the Braves’ radio feed.

Call for questions: I’ll be answering your Orioles’ questions early next week. You can leave your questions in the comments or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.