Orioles manager Brandon Hyde has said often over the past month or so that his team needs production from outside the top of the lineup to be able to win, and the club’s two victories this week over the Minnesota Twins prove it.
In a season that’s mostly about finding pieces for the future, though, it matters a lot more who those bonus producers other than Cedric Mullins and Trey Mancini are. The Orioles need Ryan Mountcastle and DJ Stewart to be productive, and each hitting a home run in Wednesday night’s 6-3 win gave an idea of what they can do when they’re at their best — a level they’re hoping can become the norm.