The Athletics have been searching for a win, and this trip sets up a real chance to grab one. After taking series from the Astros and Twins, they got flattened by the Orioles, but with little left to play for, they’re in position to make life difficult for the Rangers as they chase a divisional title.
There’s a reason to think this matchup could tilt Oakland’s way again: the last time JT Ginn, Gage Jump, and Jacob Lopez lined up in the same series, it was against Texas. The Athletics won that set 2-1 and finished with a +6 run differential, and that same pitching arrangement gives them another path to a series win here.
Globe Life Field should also help the arms on both sides settle in. Even so, the Athletics are going to need their staff to hold up if they want to keep pace with Texas. That’s a fair ask for a group that has mostly been strong, with only a few uneven spots along the way.
The bullpen was supposed to be a major factor in the last series, especially with Jack Perkins and Jeffrey Springs working the series decider and the finale. Instead, poor management kept that unit from really taking over the way it was expected to.
This series should play differently. The bullpen will still be involved, but the workload ought to be lighter overall, which should leave more room for quality innings from dependable relievers. Pair that with solid starting pitching on paper, and the Athletics have a real shot to put together a clean series win.
The offense has done enough to keep them alive, too, even in a sweep. Over the last 10 games, the Athletics have averaged 4.1 runs per game, and that kind of production could be enough in a series shaped by pitching.
They even showed a little pop in the finale against Baltimore, scoring five runs in the first three innings before ultimately falling. If they can reproduce even a piece of that early offense against the Rangers, they’ll have a strong chance to stay in front from start to finish.
In Other News...
A's Collapse Put An Uncomfortable Pitching Problem Back In Focus
The Athletics recent series loss to the Orioles served as another reminder that the pitching issues that have hovered over this club can surface fast when a game starts to tilt. Oakland had a lead in one of those games before the margin slipped away, and the familiar combination of shaky run prevention and uneven bullpen management helped turn a winnable stretch into a frustrating result.
Jeffrey Springs has been at the center of that conversation, with his post-break work making the rotation picture feel even more unsettled. On the other side, Scott Blewett gave the As a brighter note in relief against his former team, handling multiple innings effectively and giving the staff something to lean on, even as the bigger question around how this group should be deployed remains open. [Read more 🡒]
Myles Naylor Is Giving As Fans Another Prospect To Watch
The As farm system got another night of loud production from Myles Naylor, whose bat helped Lansing outlast Great Lakes in a 9-5 win. Naylor was right in the middle of the action for the Lugnuts, giving Oakland fans another prospect to keep tabs on as he continues to show the kind of impact at the plate that can change a game in a hurry.
It was a busy night across the organization, with Brayan Buelvas and Denzel Clarke going deep for Las Vegas, Cameron Leary driving in five runs for Midland and the Stockton Ports getting home runs from Bobby Blandford and Drew Burress in a loss to Ontario. But Naylors performance stood out most, not just because of the power, but because he keeps giving the As another name worth watching as the summer grind goes on. [Read more 🡒]