Notes: Hess optioned in O's roster moves?

The Orioles made a roster move to replenish their pitching depth prior to the resumption of their suspended game against the Nationals on Friday, selecting the contract of righty Chandler Shepherd and optioning righty David Hess to their alternate training site.

Hess had made just three appearances this season in a longman role, one of those being in the final innings of Thursday’s 11-4 win over the Phillies. He likely would have been unavailable Friday for manager Brandon Hyde, who needs to cover at least 12 innings given the circumstances.

The Orioles and Nats had their game Sunday suspended in the sixth inning due to a tarp malfunction that rendered the field unplayable. They will resume that game Friday before opening their regularly scheduled three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Shepherd, 27, made three starts for the Orioles down the stretch last season, pitching to a 6.63 ERA in five games overall. He is yet to appear in a game this season, and profiles as a second long relief option in Baltimore’s bullpen alongside rookie Keegan Akin.

Means update
There are more pitching moves on the horizon, with the Orioles likely to use a good number of relievers on Friday, and John Means and Jorge López almost ready to join the team from the injured list. Both were placed there in procedural moves while they underwent COVID-19 intake screening, López following his waiver claim from the Royals and Means after returning from a family funeral in Kansas City.

Means is a possibility to return and start in Sunday’s series finale against the Nationals, Hyde said Friday afternoon, though those plans have not yet been finalized. The O’s lefty has missed two starts as it stands now; he went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA over his first two starts of the season.

Additional roster move
The Orioles added more temporary bullpen depth by recalling right-hander Cody Carroll as their extra player for Friday’s nightcap. Per MLB rules, both the O’s and Nats were able to stretch their rosters to 29 players due to circumstances surrounding the suspended game.

Carroll, 27, made the team out of Summer Camp, but was optioned after two rocky outings over the season’s first week. He retired just one of the nine batters he faced in those appearances, allowing six runs. He was sent back to the alternate site following another rough appearance, allowing six runs in 1 2/3 innings in Friday's 15-3 loss. Through two innings of work this season, Carroll's ERA is 54.00.