Orioles’ losing wearing on Hyde: ‘I take it home’; Hunter Harvey pitches tonight for Norfolk

BALTIMORE—The Orioles’ 14-game losing streak, tied for the second longest in team history, has been wearing on the team and its manager.

During the streak, which began on May 18th, the Orioles have lost by five or more runs just twice. In seven of the 14, they’ve been on the short end of one or two-run games.

“We’re in almost every game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “In the middle part of the game, we’re right there. It’s breaking through. I feel like our guys are staying positive. I think we are giving a good effort. It just hasn’t happened.

“It’s very, very difficult. It’s challenging, but give our guys credit for being in almost every single one of these games after a lot of tough losses, and not hanging their heads and coming back the next day. We’re hoping we can break through with winning one of these tough games.”

Hyde said it’s not easy to get away from the strain of losing.

“It’s not one of my strengths,” he said. “Whether we’re winning or losing, it consumes me. We’re going through a tough stretch. It’s hard. You try to figure out a way to try to help. Our coaches are doing a great job of being consistent with our players.

“I think the mood is still good. I think that our guys are going out and playing to win. It just hasn’t happened. You want to win for the guys in the clubhouse. It’s definitely difficult. I do take it home and do think about it all day.”

Catcher Austin Wynns, who joined the team before Monday’s game, knows how difficult losing is. He was with the Orioles in 2018 when they lost 115 games, and in 2019, Hyde’s first year, when they dropped 108.

“It’s hard, especially where we’re at right now,” Wynns said. “This game is built on adjustments. We’re going to make an adjustment and we’re going to take a step forward and keep going.”

Wynns has played with nearly everyone on the team in the majors or the minors.

“It affects us all in different ways,” Wynns said. “We’re human. We need to re-evaluate this situation, and what’s our next step? How can be overcome this together?”

Hyde talks with his peers.

“People are checking in with me, and I like to hear thoughts from other people who’ve been in my shoes,” he said. “This has been hard. Two years ago, there were a lot of losses, too. We’re in almost all these games. A break here or there, a pitch here or there or a big hit would change things. It’s not from a lack off effort.

“My job is really to be consistent, be honest. I want players to know I have their backs as well as the coaching staff. We’re going to go through this together.”

Harvey goes again: Hunter Harvey will pitch on Tuesday night for Triple-A Norfolk. Hyde said he’ll throw “one-plus, possibly two innings” for the Tides.

Harvey, who’s on the 60-day injured list because of a strained left oblique, has been in three games.

“We’re going to see how that goes and re-evaluate after his outing tonight,” Hyde said.

Hyde is eager to have Harvey’s arm as a late-inning option.

“When he does get here, whenever that is, I’d like to treat him like a regular bullpen arm. We’re not really in a position to protect guys, anyway. That’s why we’re stretching him out to two innings tonight to see if he recover from it, and see how that goes.”

Bullpen game: Matt Harvey will start on three days’ rest on Wednesday against the Twins.

“It will be a side day. He’ll probably go an inning or two,” Hyde said. “It’s going to be the majority of a bullpen day tomorrow.”

The Orioles are off on Thursday.