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The Baltimore Orioles optioned top prospect Jackson Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of outfielder Ryan McKenna from Norfolk and designated catcher David Banuelos for assignment. Holliday, the top prospect in all of baseball, made his big-league debut on April 10 but disappointed at the plate in his limited time and has been sent back to the farm. The 20-year-old middle infielder has looked overmatched at the plate and had just two hits, an RBI, five runs scored, two walks and 18 strikeouts in his first 36 big-league plate appearances over 10 games. Holliday will most likely be back with the O's at some point in 2024, and he should remain stashed in all fantasy leagues in the meantime. With Holliday out of the picture for now, it will mean more playing time at second base for Jorge Mateo and Ramon Urias.
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde says the team is discussing whether starting pitcher John Means' (forearm) next start will come in Triple-A Norfolk or for the major-league club. The O's don't have a starter scheduled for Sunday's series finale versus the visiting Oakland Athletics, so there's a chance Means makes his 2024 regular-season debut in that one. While the 31-year-old left-hander struggled mightily with a 13.89 ERA, 2.31 WHIP, and 14:6 K:BB over 11 2/3 innings (five starts) during his minor-league rehab assignment, a matchup at home against the lowly A's would certainly put him on the streaming radar right off the bat in fantasy leagues. Means is on the mend from a strained left forearm, but if he needs one last rehab appearance, veteran right-hander Albert Suarez has fired 11 1/3 scoreless frames with nine strikeouts in two starts for Baltimore and would get the ball on Sunday instead.
Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson stuffed the stat sheet in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three RBI, and a stolen base. Henderson first homered to get the O's on the board in the third inning. After leading off the fifth with a double, he hit a two-run single in the sixth before stealing a base in the eighth to put the cherry on top of a wonderful day in Anaheim. The 22-year-old reigning American League Rookie of the Year might be getting even better in his third season, now slashing a robust .309/.373/.649 with eight round-trippers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, and five pilfers atop Baltimore's high-powered lineup. Henderson has a great chance to stay hot during a home series with the Oakland Athletics starting on Friday, as he's batting .371 (13-for-40) with two bombs, five doubles, five RBI, and 11 runs scored in nine career games against the A's.
Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson. Kjerstad made his 2024 debut for the O's on Tuesday against a right-hander and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, so he'll head to the bench on Wednesday against a lefty that has been pitching well early this year. Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting eighth for the Orioles against Anderson. Kjerstad, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned the promotion to Baltimore after hitting .349/.431/.744 with a 1.176 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in the first 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old should be rostered in mixed leagues, but don't be surprised if he continues to sit against lefties given Baltimore's stacked roster.
Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is back at first base and is hitting third in the order for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Tyler Anderson. Mountcastle will return to action after missing the last two games with knee soreness. The 27-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2015 has been swinging the bat well this year with a .333 average (25-for-75) with two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first two games. Fantasy baseball managers need to make sure to get Mountcastle back into their lineups. He's only faced Anderson twice in his career and is hitless with one RBI. So far against southpaws in 2024, Mountcastle is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer and three RBI.