The task at hand can’t change because of an elbow.

Teammates, manager Brandon Hyde and his staff collectively hurt for John Means and Tyler Wells, who will undergo surgery to repair their ulnar collateral ligaments. Two huge contributors to the club are gone, but the process stays the same.

Go out and do your job. Stay within yourself. Don’t feel pressure to replace the missing and make it worse.

“I just want them to do what they do,” manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday afternoon. “Give us the best starts that they can. I don’t want them to try to do anything extra. We’ve thrown the ball really well so far this year. Hopefully, we continue to do that.

“I want our guys to do what Albert Suárez did (Friday) night. Just give us as much as they can every time out.”

The second batter that Kyle Bradish faced today singled into right field, the ball glancing off Jorge Mateo’s glove as he attempted to make a sliding stop. A cleaner single followed. The no-hit stuff and the breaks were left back in Chicago.

Bradish lasted only 2 2/3 innings after losing his command and issuing three consecutive walks, the last with the bases loaded that broke a 4-4 tie. But a game was won again.

Hitting four home runs and getting strong work out of the bullpen made it happen. This is a team that will find a way.

Ryan Mountcastle cleared the center field fence twice within the first four innings, going back-to-back with Anthony Santander in the first, Jacob Webb came to the rescue with 2 1/3 scoreless, and the Orioles claimed another series against a division opponent with a 9-5 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 36,958 at Camden Yards.

Jordan Westburg marked his return to the lineup by homering in the second inning, and the Orioles moved a season-high 18 games above .500 at 37-19. They’re 14-0-5 in their last 19 series against the American League East and go for the sweep Sunday before flying to Toronto.

Jordan Westburg returns to the Orioles’ lineup today after missing the past two games with a sore right hand.

Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins are on the bench, with Kyle Stowers in left field and Colton Cowser in center. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter.

Anthony Santander, who’s in right field, has posted a .333 average and .762 slugging percentage in plate appearances ending on the first pitch, according to STATS.

Kyle Bradish is back on the mound after his seven hitless innings in Chicago. He brings a 1.75 ERA and 1.052 WHIP in five starts and hasn’t surrendered a home run.

Bradish is 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA and 1.410 WHIP in five career starts against the Rays. Yandy Díaz is 6-for-14 with a double, Randy Arozarena is 4-for-14 with a triple and two home runs, and Harold Ramírez is 5-for-13 with a double.

Albert Suárez made another start with the Orioles last night. Cole Irvin closes out the Rays series on Sunday and is unlikely to do more bouncing between rotation and bullpen.

A minimum of five starters are needed on a major league staff. The Orioles want to expand it to six but injuries have created an unsettled situation.

Dean Kremer’s right triceps injury is improving but he might go on a brief rehab assignment. John Means and Tyler Wells are undergoing elbow surgeries within the next few days and won’t pitch again in 2024, crushing blows for them and the team.

A six-man rotation? The Orioles have fingers crossed that they can keep their quintet from crumbling.

A knee-jerk response to torn elbow ligaments is to burn up the phone lines and make a trade. The Orioles don’t have immediate plans to do it, though executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said he’s “in contact” with other teams.

The season shifted past the one-third mark for the Orioles tonight. It also dumped them into a treacherous stretch of 29 games in 30 days, the only breather coming on June 17, wedged between series against the Phillies and Yankees. The two teams with the best records in baseball.

How they responded tonight again illustrated why they also belong among the finest.

They pitched, they made plays in the field and they eventually hit in the clutch. Another division opponent was on the wrong side of it.

Austin Hays came off the bench to deliver a game-tying single in the sixth inning, Jorge Mateo doubled to score two more runs, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 3-1 before an announced crowd of 27,364 at Camden Yards.

Craig Kimbrel recorded his 13^th save and 430^th of his career to take sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list, and the Orioles improved to 36-19 after winning for the seventh time in eight tries.

The Orioles are losing two projected starting pitchers for the rest of the 2024 season, presenting more challenges for the rotation and perhaps altering trade plans near or at the deadline.

John Means and Tyler Wells will undergo season-ending elbow surgery within the next few days, according to executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, who met with the media earlier today in the dugout. Both procedures are to repair the ulnar collateral ligament, and whether it’s Tommy John will be determined later.

The surgeries also will sideline them at the beginning of 2025.

"Both pitchers, after a lot of medical attention and diagnoses, were determined that they're going to require a revision repair to their ulnar collateral ligaments," Elias said. "It's a very unfortunate situation for us, for them. Tough news for everybody. But we'll take great care of them and get them back to their skill level in due time."

The ultimate solution to the injuries isn't discovered until the surgeries begin, which could lead to differing time frames.

Jordan Westburg remains out of the lineup for tonight’s game against the Rays at Camden Yards.

Westburg has a bruised right hand. He didn’t play Wednesday.

Ramón Urías stays at third base. Colton Cowser is in left field, Cedric Mullins is in center and Anthony Santander is in right.

Adley Rutschman is batting .381 against fastballs this season, fourth-highest in the majors per STATS. Eight of his 10 home runs have come off fastballs. Kyle Tucker (13) and Juan Soto (12) are the only players with more.

Albert Suárez stays in the rotation and on turn after replacing injured right-hander Dean Kremer. Suárez tossed four scoreless innings Saturday in Chicago and is 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 0.955 WHIP in 11 games (four starts).

The Orioles kept their bullpen intact through the off-day that leads into tonight’s series opener against the Rays and begins a stretch of 29 games in 30 days.

They didn’t option anyone. They didn’t make a trade or a waiver claim.

But the day is still young.

The Orioles keep shuffling relievers. They acquired Thyago Vieira from the Brewers Saturday and optioned left-hander Nick Vespi two days later. Jonathan Heasley was recalled May 23 and optioned the next day to make room for Dillon Tate.

Mike Baumann was designated for assignment on May 18 and later traded to the Mariners for Triple-A catcher Blake Hunt.

To understand and appreciate Jordan Westburg's advanced approach to hitting, rewind to Tuesday night in the bottom of the first inning.

The Orioles were down 2-1 and had the bases loaded. Red Sox starter Brayan Bello got ahead two strikes, threw a third consecutive sinker and watched it roll into right field. Ryan O’Hearn and Colton Cowser raced home and Bello’s lead was gone.

That’s Westburg, in only his first full season in the majors.

Gunnar Henderson was the American League’s Rookie of the Year last season and is an early favorite to follow in the footsteps of Cal Ripken Jr., who won the award in 1982 and was chosen Most Valuable Player in ’83. But the low-key Westburg is ranking highly on the club’s statistical lists, placing second in average (.291), on-base percentage (.351), slugging percentage (.508) and OPS (.859) heading into last night. His 34 RBIs were third.

His 12 multi-RBI games led the team.

The entire Orioles infield gathered on the mound in the second inning for a conference that seemed to be more about settling down. Hit the pause button, regroup and get back to work. Get back to the way they normally play.

The Red Sox scored after Connor Wong singled, left fielder Colton Cowser and shortstop Gunnar Henderson committed errors, and Jorge Mateo made a high throw to the plate on a fielder’s choice. Corbin Burnes also threw a wild pitch for bad measure.

A popup and caught stealing kept the deficit at one. The defense was fixed.

Fortunately for the Orioles, there was nothing wrong with the bats. No one had to say a word.

Henderson hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second, Burnes held the Red Sox to an unearned run and three hits over seven innings, and the Orioles claimed another division series with a 6-1 victory before an announced crowd of 18,857 at Camden Yards.

The 95.5 mph sinker that crashed into Jordan Westburg’s right-hand last night threw a scare into the Orioles. He didn't toss him onto the injured list.

Westburg is out of tonight’s lineup to give him an extra day to heal. X-rays came back negative, and Thursday’s off-day should improve his chances of playing Friday night against the Rays at Camden Yards.

“I think we really caught a break and got lucky,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s sore, but feels a lot better than he did last night. It squared him up pretty good on the hand.”

Brayan Bello drilled Westburg in the sixth, and the infielder crouched on his way to first base as Hyde and athletic trainer Mark Shires rushed onto the field. Westburg stayed in the game, the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs, and they didn’t score.

Adley Rutschman also is out of the lineup but he’s healthy. Hyde is making concessions to the brutal schedule that includes only one open date in June.

X-rays on Jordan Westburg’s right hand and wrist came back negative after he was hit last night by a pitch. However, he’s out of tonight’s lineup against the Red Sox.

Westburg leads the club with 12 multi-RBI games.

James McCann is catching and batting ninth. Adley Rutschman is on the bench.

Ramón Urías gets the start at third base. Ryan O’Hearn is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in left field again and batting cleanup.

O’Hearn is hitting .325 against fastballs in Baltimore this season compared to just .167 on the road.

Kyle Bradish was supposed to be the biggest worry in the Orioles’ rotation.

Bradish was the pitcher diagnosed with the sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He was the pitcher receiving the platelet-rich plasma injection in January, with the possibility of surgery that would end his 2024 season.

We’re a few days away from moving into June and Bradish is still standing. He’s still performing like an ace, mimicking the 2023 version that finished fourth in American League Cy Young voting.

The seven no-hit innings in Chicago came in only his fifth start after the Orioles reinstated him from the injured list. His ERA is 1.75 and his WHIP 1.052, with an average of 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. And he outlasted Tyler Wells and John Means, who didn’t figure to bow out in April and May, respectively.

Put it high on the list of unexpected developments, maybe No. 1.

Chafed by his career-high five walks in his last start in Chicago, Grayson Rodriguez used the word “atrocious” to describe his fastball command and overall performance. Well below his standards. Easier to tolerate, however, because the Orioles won.

Rodriguez began tonight’s game with a strikeout, home run, double and run-scoring single to fall behind 2-0. He also walked a batter. He was around the plate with 16 strikes among 22 pitches, but maybe a little too much.

Atrocious remained in play after Rodriguez was given a lead in the bottom half and the Red Sox responded by snatching it out of his hands, but he struck out a career-high 10 batters and issued just the one walk over six innings. The Red Sox didn’t score against him after the second.

Still needed was a comeback that would extend the Orioles’ winning streak to six games. They had opportunities but couldn’t do it. They couldn’t even keep it close.

They loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth and didn’t score, Keegan Akin allowed three runs in the ninth and the Orioles lost to the Red Sox 8-3 before an announced crowd of 17,970 at Camden Yards.

Dean Kremer is making good progress in his recovery from a right triceps strain.

The Orioles put Kremer on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 21. He’s rehabbing with the club.

“He’s doing well,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “It’s getting a little bit better every day. The soreness has gone down. Should be expecting to play catch here soon.

“So far so good with him.”

Hyde didn’t have any updates on John Means (left forearm strain) or Tyler Wells (right elbow inflammation). Means is receiving a second opinion after flying back to Baltimore. Wells is in Sarasota rehabbing, with no news beyond how he was cleared to play catch last week.

The Astros claimed reliever Kaleb Ort on waivers from the Orioles earlier today. The Orioles’ 40-man roster is down to 39 players.

Ort had a 12.08 ERA and 2.447 WHIP in 14 relief appearances with Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles acquired him from the Phillies on Feb. 19 for cash considerations.

Ryan O’Hearn is the first baseman tonight as the series continues against the Red Sox. Ryan Mountcastle is on the bench.

Cedric Mullins is in center field again after yesterday’s two-run triple. Colton Cowser is in left field and batting cleanup. Kyle Stowers is the designated hitter after going 3-for-4 yesterday with a career-high four RBIs.

Jorge Mateo stays at second base. Fifteen of his 25 hits have gone for extra bases.

Tim Cossins can bring a unique perspective as a member of the Orioles’ coaching staff.

Cossins is the major league field coordinator and catching instructor, but he relocated from the dugout to the bullpen during games in 2022. He’s equipped to talk about the relievers, too.

Maybe he also can be described as a Swiss Army knife. The Orioles are carrying a few of them.

Cossins spent a few minutes Sunday morning meeting with reporters outside the visiting clubhouse, his availability leading only to bullpen questions. After he jokingly said that he prepared to talk catching, taking a few steps toward the door, he had to spend three more minutes on that subject.

Let’s not forget his primary function, which also enables him to discuss catchers in the farm system.

Maybe it didn’t exactly happen because of this, but it felt like it did. When O’s lefty Cole Irvin pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth this afternoon, the O’s held their 2-0 lead.

That generated some momentum and then their offense rewarded the lefty with a quick-strike, five-run inning when they did most of the damage hitting to the off field.

Today the Orioles took control of the game early.

The five-run outburst drew the approval of a Memorial Day crowd of 40,951 at Oriole Park as the Orioles hammered Boston 11-3 to take the opener of a three-game series and six-game homestand.

The good offensive vibes that started for the club during the four-game sweep in Chicago carried back to the East Coast. Today, Ryan Mountcastle had three hits and Kyle Stowers drove in four while Adley Rutschman and Cedric Mullins knocked in two each. 

The Orioles have made it home after their 4-3 road trip to St. Louis and Chicago and now they begin a stretch of four straight series versus American League East opponents.

The Orioles (33-18), two games out in the division behind New York, host Boston (27-26), a club that is in third place but is nine games out. Today these teams start a three-game series and run of 14 games for the Orioles against Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Tampa Bay.

After scoring just eight runs on 14 hits in three losses at St. Louis, the O's got more productive offense during the four-game sweep at Chicago. They scored 23 runs on 35 hits with eight doubles and eight homers in that series. They went 7-for-25 with runners in scoring position in winning the games by two, two, two and three runs.

Boston won Sunday to avoid being swept at home by Milwaukee. With that 2-1 win, Boston is an major league-best 9-0 on Sundays, by a combined 58-20 score. 

The Orioles swept Boston April 9-11 at Fenway Park, winning by 7-1, 7-5 and 9-4 scores. Baltimore is 39-22 (.639) in the AL East since the start of last year.

Ahead of their series- and homestand-opening game with the Boston Red Sox this afternoon, the Orioles have activated right-handed pitcher Thyago Vieira and optioned lefty Nick Vespi back to Triple-A Norfolk.

On Saturday afternoon the O's sent Triple-A pitcher Garrett Stallings to the Milwaukee Brewers and acquired right-handers Vieira and minor leaguer Aneuris Rodriguez. Rodriguez is heading down to the Florida Complex League while Vieira now joins the big club and will wear No. 40.

Vieira, 31, had a 5.64 ERA, 1.701 WHIP and one save in 16 appearances with the Brewers. He owns a career 6.18 ERA and 1.667 WHIP in 41 games with the Mariners, White Sox and Brewers since making his major league debut in 2017. He pitched in Japan from 2020-22.

Vieira throws some high-octane fastballs, with a two-seam sinker that averages 96.9 mph and a four-seamer at 97.7 mph. He’s averaging 4.9 walks per nine innings in the majors to go with nine strikeouts. He’s averaged 4.5 walks in 10 minor league seasons.

The Brewers designated Vieira for assignment on Monday. He’s out of options.