Orioles evaluating players while trying to stop their losing streak

As the Orioles tried unsuccessfully yesterday to close out their road trip with a victory and slam the brakes on a losing streak that grew to 13 games, unable to make the flight home a little more enjoyable, some of the organization's top pitching prospects were given starts at the upper levels of the farm system.

Kyle Bradish was handed the ball at Triple-A Norfolk, with Dean Kremer and Zac Lowther on the mound for the next two games in Durham. Mike Baumann and DL Hall started for Double-A Bowie yesterday in a doubleheader at Prince George's Stadium.

MLBPipeline.com ranks Hall as the organization's No. 4 prospect and slots Baumann seventh, Lowther ninth and Bradish 12th. Baseball America's preseason rankings had Hall third, Baumann eighth, Kremer ninth, Keegan Akin 10th and Bradish 12th.

The Orioles gave Akin his first start of 2021 after four relief appearances. And eyes again were wisely focused on the big picture, no matter how much the present hurts and frustrates.

The evaluation process encompasses the entire franchise, and that certainly includes the major league team. It's just been easier, and more effective in controlling blood pressure, to track the minors and the promotions that should continue this week.

Manager Brandon Hyde won't back the bus over any of his players - doing so is the fastest way to lose a clubhouse and, ultimately a job - but he also won't coddle them through a litany of mistakes. He vented after Saturday's doubleheader, though in a calm and controlled fashion, and provided a reminder that, while wins matter inside the clubhouse and how they've been losing is unacceptable, there's work that's accomplished and beneficial, again, in the big picture, no matter the results.

"We're finding out about our guys. That's the bottom line," Hyde said, words that should comfort some players and worry others, and it isn't hard to divide them into the two groups.

"We have some guys that we wanted to look at this year and we're finding out about them from an evaluation standpoint. That's good. But you want to put a competitive product on the field, and when we're facing good clubs that are built to win with starting pitching that is good, we have a tough time scoring runs."

Especially with runners on second and/or third base.

Every game since the arrival of Hyde, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, and his staff, has been viewed as a method of determining who's part of the rebuild moving forward and who's a temporary passenger. Which players are important to the future of the team and which ones are placeholders - ideally trade chips at the deadline, but otherwise organizational depth or less.

Fans aren't likely to be entertained by it. It's a hard watch and a tough sell. But the Orioles don't employ a makeup artist who can improve the appearance of a rebuild.

What's supposed to happen is that the Orioles will be contenders every year as more talent is pumped through the pipeline, that it's going to be sustainable, even in the American League East and without a huge payroll. That drafted and developed players can help them on the field or when packaged in trades, like the big boys are doing. And that the international market is going to be an affordable way to increase the depth and unearth some gems.

Crowds will swell inside Camden Yards again, just as they did during the playoff years. The people who don't get it right now, who keep thinking a rebuild should last one or two years, will suddenly have a light bulb go on above their heads.

Watt's wrong with that?

The Orioles know that Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays should be two-thirds of their outfield, but only if the latter can stay off the injured list. They know Ryan Mountcastle will hit at this level and a sophomore slump doesn't change their projection, even if it's decided that he needs a reset at Triple-A.

They're using these games to get a clearer read on prospects Kremer, Akin and Bruce Zimmermann. On whether Jorge López is a starter, reliever or expendable. Whether Tanner Scott can be trusted in high-leverage situations with his high walk totals. Whether Chance Sisco is the eventual backup to Adley Rutschman. Whether DJ Stewart can be a consistent hitter and on-base threat in the majors - he homered yesterday - and also improve defensively. Whether Rule 5 picks Tyler Wells and Mac Sceroler are keepers. And with injuries creating a roster spot, whether Ryan McKenna is at least a fourth outfielder.

Even a guy like Stevie Wilkerson, let go and re-signed to a minor league deal, has a chance to convince Elias and Hyde that he's worth holding onto because of his versatility and energy. A 26th man on a good team.

No one is blocking second base, where he made two outstanding plays Saturday. He won't have a better shot.

A team learns by letting them pitch and play. That includes using Wells in high-leverage situations, though done out of necessity. Plugging rookies in the rotation. Living with the results.

Living in the present but also getting a head start on 2022.