The Athletics couldn’t shake off the damage from a sweep by the Marlins, and Tuesday’s loss to the Tigers pushed their recent slide into even rougher territory. Over their last 10 games, they’re now 2-8, a stretch that leaves plenty of questions hanging as the first half keeps ticking away.
There were still a couple of encouraging individual performances in the defeat, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer kept making his case as one of the few real bright spots. The 23-year-old has been electric since his debut just seven games ago, hitting .462 with a 1.058 OPS. Against Detroit, he went 3-for-4 with a double, and his lone out came after an 11-pitch at-bat that showed just how locked in he is at the plate right now.
Henry Bolte also gave the Athletics something to build on. He finished 1-for-3 with three runs and a homer in the third inning, continuing the role he’s been asked to fill as the club’s primary run scorer in the series.
That blast was his third of the season, and it came off back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. Bolte’s speed already stands out, and with his 6-foot-3 frame, the power could keep growing as he develops.
Jacob Lopez’s line ended up looking worse than the outing really was. A messy bottom of the sixth changed the picture, and the key moment came on a shallow popup with two outs when Lawrence Butler and Kuroda-Grauer miscommunicated.
Since the play was scored as a double, the box score took a hit. If that ball is caught, Lopez leaves after 3.0 innings with just two hits allowed and no runs surrendered.
That’s why there’s still a chance Mark Kotsay gives Lopez some grace moving forward. It could open the door for Lopez to get another look in the starting rotation, or it could mean he stays in the bullpen as a regular piece there. Either way, the outing left him with something to build on.
In Other News...
As Draft Track Record Is Giving Fans A Real Reason To Believe
For a franchise that spent years trying to rebuild credibility through the draft, the Athletics are finally giving their fans something tangible to point to. The current lineup is increasingly built around players the club identified and developed itself, with recent first-rounders Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson front and center and a broader homegrown group helping shape the roster's identity.
The 2024 draft class has only strengthened that case, with Kurtz, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Gage Jump already reaching the majors and adding to the sense that the organization is getting more out of its scouting and development process. General manager David Forst has credited those efforts, even as the A's have had to live with a few lottery outcomes that did not quite match the odds, a reminder that the next wave of talent will still have to be earned the hard way. [Read more 🡒]
As Just Made A Lineup Change Fans Saw Coming
Tyler Soderstrom is back in the Oakland Athletics mix after the club activated the left fielder from the 10-day injured list ahead of its second game against the Tigers. Soderstrom had been out with a left hip impingement, and his return gives the As another bat they have leaned on this season while he works back into the everyday lineup.
To clear a spot, the club sent Max Muncy to Triple-A, a move that had been building for a while given how much he has struggled on both sides of the ball. Muncy opened the year as the teams third baseman, but the As now have to sort out the hot corner without him, and the next step there will be worth watching as they try to stabilize a lineup that has been changing more than they likely wanted. [Read more 🡒]
This Lefty Could Be The A's Rotation Fix Fans Want
Pitching has been the soft spot all season, and the Athletics have spent plenty of time trying to patch together a rotation that has been hit by injuries and inconsistency. With J.T. Ginn currently carrying the load, the search for help is less about luxury and more about survival, especially for a club that needs steadier innings from the front of the staff.
One name worth watching is a left-hander in Washington who has quietly put together a strong year with a 2.87 ERA over 103.1 innings. His path has been interesting too, as he has gone from a four-pitch mix to a seven-pitch arsenal after three seasons in Japan, and his one-year, $5.5 million deal could make him a movable piece if the right opportunity comes along. [Read more 🡒]