The Athletics enter the second half in a rough place, but not one that shuts the door on their season.
They closed the first half with sweeps at the hands of the Marlins, Tigers, and White Sox, and that left them riding a nine-game losing streak that could spill into Friday’s series against the Nationals. Even with that skid hanging over them, there is still a real path for the A’s to get moving again.
A big reason for that optimism is the offense. For most of the season, the Athletics have swung the bat well, and the additions of Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and recently called-up third baseman Tommy White give the lineup a different look heading into the final 66 games. If the club’s biggest bats start clicking together, this group can become a problem fast.
There were still some loud individual performances during the losing streak. JKG finished it hitting .422 with a .968 OPS, while Jacob Wilson put together a strong stretch of his own, collecting several multi-hit games over his last four and batting .467 with a 1.067 OPS. The production has been there in pockets, but the A’s need more from Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers if they want the whole lineup to really take off.
What happens next could shape the rest of the season in a big way. The Athletics could choose the “buyers” path and look to bolster the pitching staff without moving major pieces. Or they could go the other direction and deal players such as Shea Langeliers or Joshua Kuroda-Grauer.
If they do buy, the ingredients are there for a strong second half. Better pitching layered onto an already solid offense would give the Athletics a legitimate chance to make a serious push, because this season is still very much alive.
That possibility exists largely because the A.L West has been wide open in a way few expected. The Athletics were in first place not long ago and had a chance to pull away, but instead the Mariners, Rangers, and Astros all surged.
Even now, the A’s are 8.0 games behind the division lead. That number looks steep at first glance, but it still leaves room for a run. And while it takes optimism to say it, runs like that have happened before.
In Other News...
A's Are Finally Giving Tommy White A Look Fans Wanted
Tommy White is getting the call at a time when the Athletics need another bat and a little more flexibility on the roster. The club is set to bring up the infielder for the series opener against the Washington Nationals, a move that comes as part of a broader shuffle that includes activating Donovan Walton and sending Joey Meneses and Brian Serven to Triple-A.
Whites path to Oakland has been watched closely by fans who have wanted to see him get a real look, and the opening was created when Brent Rookers season-ending injury moved him to the 60-day injured list. White is not on the 40-man roster, so the As had to make room, and now the question is how quickly he can settle into a major league role and give the lineup something it has been missing. [Read more 🡒]
A's Youth Movement Just Took A Dramatic Turn This Week
The Athletics roster churn has kept the focus squarely on the future, and this week brought another clear sign of how aggressively the club is leaning into it. Oakland brought up third baseman Tommy White and right-hander Yunior Tur, adding another layer to a youth movement that has already been reshaping the big-league picture while the organization continues sorting through its pitching staff.
The timing matters, too, because the moves come on the heels of the clubs recent dismissal of pitching coach Scott Emerson, a change that underscored how much pressure is building around the mound. Aaron Civales season has been a struggle, and he had not pitched for the As since July 10, leaving the organization with a decision that says plenty about where it thinks the next phase of this season is headed. [Read more 🡒]