Good morning, A’s fans.
Three of the four Wild Card Series ended the same way: with a sweep. The Yankees, Padres and White Sox all moved on, while the Cubs, Red Sox and Astros saw their seasons end without getting to the later rounds. None of those eliminated clubs were the biggest favorites in the field, but that doesn’t make the exits any easier for their fanbases.
Now the bracket is mostly in place for the next round, and there are some heavyweight matchups coming. In the AL, the Yankees - fresh off their win over a division rival - now draw the Rays, the No. 1 seed in the league and another familiar foe. That one has the feel of a toss-up and should be one of the best series of the round.
The other American League matchup is another division showdown, with the White Sox facing the Guardians. Chicago rolled past Houston and looked sharp doing it, but Cleveland is a tougher test. The question now is whether the White Sox can keep riding that wave or whether the run ends here.
Out in the NL, the Brewers already know they’ll be taking on the Padres. Milwaukee was the only 100-win team in baseball this season and enters as one of the favorites.
The problem is that the Brewers have been in this spot before and haven’t gotten all the way through. San Diego brings a similar vibe: a strong club that keeps landing just short of expectations.
Milwaukee should have the edge, but San Diego has upset potential.
The one series that refused to wrap up in three games was Braves-Phillies. Atlanta was within six outs of finishing the sweep before Philadelphia flipped the script.
The Phillies hit back-to-back homers in the eighth to tie it, then finished off the comeback in extra innings to force a decisive Game 3. Winner take all.
Philadelphia still hasn’t announced its starter for the must-win game later today, though Zack Wheeler on short rest is a possibility. Atlanta has its own decision to make, and former A’s prospect Grant Holmes could get the call after what’s been a strong season in Atlanta. Either way, the final game of the series is set for 5:15 Pacific.
Back on the A’s side of things, the club is still waiting to name its new general manager. There had been talk that the hire would be in place before the end of the year, but that deadline has already passed.
The hope now is that the organization gets the move done before the playoffs end so the new voice can have a full offseason to work with. For now, it’s a waiting game.
Have a great Friday Junior, everyone.
In Other News...
As Make Offensive Shakeup After A Frustrating Season
After a frustrating season at the plate, the Athletics are making a significant coaching change on offense. Chris Cron, who had been with the organization since 2022 and served as the primary hitting coach in 2024, is out, and Marcus Jensen is also moving on after two decades in the As organization, including the past two seasons in a quality control role.
The move comes after Oaklands offensive struggles in 2026 were only made worse by injuries, leaving the club looking for a reset in how it prepares and develops hitters. The search is now on for new voices in both spots, a sign the As are not treating this as a minor tweak but as an important part of sorting out a lineup that never found enough consistency. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Suddenly Have A 2027 Reason Fans Should Be Excited
The Athletics 2026 season never really got off the ground, and the biggest reason was simple enough: injuries kept a big chunk of the lineup from ever settling in. Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom were among the regulars missing for much of the year, leaving the club to patch together production while trying to stay afloat. Even so, the second half offered a few encouraging signs, with Henry Bolte and Zack Gelof both helping carry some of the load when the roster was thinned out.
There was also a better-than-expected foundation in the pitching staff, especially in the bullpen, which gave the As something to build around going forward. The bigger question is how the front of the rotation comes together, because the next step may require another arm or two to stabilize things before 2027. For a team that spent much of last season waiting for its core to get healthy, that kind of offseason need could end up shaping the entire outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Zack Gelof Could Decide How Far The Athletics Really Go
Zack Gelofs 2026 season still gave the Athletics plenty to build on, even with the time he missed. He managed 22 home runs and 55 RBIs despite being sidelined for 51 games, and that kind of production is exactly why his place in the lineup matters so much as the club looks ahead.
The hope in Oakland is that Gelof can stay on the field long enough to anchor the infield and give the lineup a real middle-of-the-order presence. His health is still the biggest variable, and with a legal fight tied to the injury he suffered in July lingering in the background, the Athletics are left waiting to see just how much more impact he can still provide. [Read more 🡒]