Hyde on clubhouse, Galvis at cleanup, Mountcastle and more

The Orioles have followed a 14-game losing streak with three consecutive wins and manager Brandon Hyde can see and hear the changes in the clubhouse. Though he's also quick to point out that players never became so despondent that it zapped their energy and lowered their effort each night.

"I think it's just natural for everybody to be a little looser, and it's a little lighter in there when you're winning, and that's just human nature," Hyde said today on his Zoom call.

"But even in our tough stretches these last few years, I've always been impressed with the guys in our clubhouse and the coaching staff kind of setting the tone and a consistent mindset. Our clubhouse has always been good. But yeah, when you're winning it tends to be a little more talkative, the music's always a little bit louder, the food always tastes a little bit better."

Hyde noted how Trey Mancini, Freddy Galvis and Matt Harvey provided the bulk of the veteran leadership during the recent crisis, "guys who were talking a lot to our younger players."

Galvis is batting cleanup today for the fifth time this season, and the fifth of his career.

"It's not the ideal spot for him in the batting order, but it's where we are lineup-wise right now," Hyde said. "And it's to get, for me, the best four or five matchups against the starter at the top of the order in some way."

Ryan Mountcastle has seven extra-base hits in his last 10 games, including four home runs. He's slotted fifth in the lineup today and serving as the designated hitter.

Mountcastle is working to improve his selectivity, which should increase his walk total. He's drawn seven walks in 200 plate appearances, compared to 11 last year in 140.

"That's something that we talk about with him quite a bit," Hyde said.

"I'm not talking about walks, but a little bit more selective, especially early in the count, not chasing early in the count, which is going to lead to hitter's counts, which is going to lead to walks. He's dangerous in the batter's box, everybody knows that. But there's times and there's at-bats where he just gets away from himself a little bit and gets a little too anxious, a little too quick. That's why I always talk about middle of the field with him and being able to stay on the ball, just because when he's not going well, he just gets really, really quick and leaves the strike zone, and when he doesn't, he's got a ton of success. So continuing to work with him on it."

Players wore Cedric Mullins orange t-shirts today while taking batting practice, many with the sleeves cut off to combat the heat. Fans can receive the shirt on June 18.

Outfielder Austin Hays, on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, swung in the cage and is beginning a rehab assignment early next week.

Hyde isn't thinking ahead to the next long streak of consecutive games and whether he might use six starters. The team is off twice next week and won't find the next open date on its schedule until July 1.

"Not yet. Trying to get through this short stretch first," Hyde said.

"I feel like this is the second time this has happened to us."