Orioles reliever Paul Fry is one of the few bright spots on a team that entered Thursday on a nine-game losing streak. Coming into the series opener against the White Sox, Fry had posted a respectable 2.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 18 innings.

The way Fry is throwing these days, manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Fry could get the ninth inning if the Orioles have the lead. César Valdez, who leads the club in saves with eight, has been hit hard lately, allowing six runs in his last 5 2/3 innings this month.

“I’m going to try to match up as best as I can, but Paul has definitely worked his way into somebody that could pitch the ninth inning for us,” Hyde said.

Fry acknowledged the losing has been frustrating, but good news is that players are holding each other accountable for the problems.

“It’s a rebuild, but things will turn around soon and we are working hard every day,” Fry said. “… I think we are going to hit a turning point soon. This is a tough stretch for us. There are no off-days. It’s a long road trip. It’s just one of those things. You have to battle through it. We are going to come out stronger at this point.”

Fry was asked about the possibility of being dealt before the Trade Deadline on July 31. There are winning teams that could use his services out of the bullpen. But Fry isn’t thinking about that. He learned not to think about that possibility by being around former bullpen mates like Zack Britton, Darren O'Day and Mychal Givens.

“Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen. I’m just trying to go out there and do my job every day for the Orioles,” Fry said. “What I learned from those guys is just how they carried themselves -- the routines that they had, the way they went about their business every day, the way they approached the game in the bullpen from the fifth inning on. That’s when you have to be ready as a late-inning reliever.

“I did more observing rather than talking. It’s just one of those things where you learned just by being around the guys. So I just try to be that mentor to the young guys that we have now.”