The Athletics’ slide has gotten ugly in a hurry.
They were sitting at .500 on June 19 after beating the Angels, and since then they’ve gone 2-8. That run has dropped them to 40-46 after a 9-3 loss to the Dodgers, and with the rest of the A.L. West picking up steam, fourth place in the division is suddenly very much on the table.
A recent move hasn’t done much to change that picture. The A’s acquired right-hander Hayden Juenger from the Blue Jays on June 27, activated him on June 30, and still haven’t gotten him on the mound yet. Even with that addition, the pitching picture remains shaky.
That showed up again in the latest loss, when Jeffrey Springs got off to another rough start and Geoff Hartlieb followed with a tough relief outing. The message is hard to miss: this group needs pitching help, and it needs it fast. With the schedule heading toward the All-Star break looking unfriendly, a major trade feels necessary if this season is going to stay alive into the second half.
Injuries have done serious damage to the roster’s momentum. Zack Gelof went down while riding a 24-game hitting streak.
Tyler Soderstrom also got hurt, and at that point he was the backbone of the lineup. Jacob Wilson has appeared in just 11 games before landing back on the injured list.
That kind of injury stretch would hurt any club. What’s been more damaging for the Athletics is how completely the team has unraveled around it.
The stars haven’t carried enough of the load, either. Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz have both disappeared offensively, and that’s left the A’s with very little margin for error.
The warning signs were there even before the injuries piled up. In Sacramento, the Athletics dropped their first series back there to the sub-.500 Pirates, 1-2. They then split a series with the last-place Angels, 2-2, before losing 1-2 to the Giants and getting hit by the injury bug along the way.
That stretch didn’t leave much room for excuses. If the Athletics had handled those games more cleanly, this conversation might look a lot different.
A loss to the Dodgers can be filed under expected. The bigger problem is failing to take care of the games they’re supposed to win.
Right now, the overall direction looks rough. The injuries are mounting, the play has dipped, and the schedule isn’t doing them any favors. If the Athletics want to change the story, they’re going to need significant answers, and so far they haven’t found them.
In Other News...
A's Suddenly Face A Big Kade Morris Decision
Kade Morris gave the Athletics another reason to keep him in the conversation with his three-inning relief stint against the Dodgers, a solid enough outing that only added to the intrigue around what comes next. He allowed three hits and struck out two, showing the kind of versatility that can matter for a team trying to patch together innings while dealing with injuries and uneven results elsewhere on the staff.
The real question now is whether Oakland views Morris as a rotation piece or a bullpen arm, because the answer could shape several moving parts on the pitching staff. The A's are weighing their options with other starters and relievers still trying to settle in, and Morris has suddenly become one of the more interesting decisions on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Bullpen May Finally Get The Lefty Fix Fans Need
The Athletics bullpen has been one of the bigger reasons the club has slipped in the division race, and the left-handed side of that relief mix has become a particular concern. Oakland has leaned on Hogan Harris, Jose Suarez and Matt Krook in those spots, but with Harris scuffling lately, the group has not given the staff much margin for error when games tighten up.
Help may be close at hand if the front office decides to stay internal. CD Pelham has put together strong numbers at Triple-A this season and has emerged as a name to watch for a possible call-up, giving the As a potential lefty fix without having to wait on a more complicated roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Made A Pitching Change Fans Will Want To Watch
The Dodgers head into Tuesday nights matchup with the Athletics after opening the series with a 9-4 win, and the pitching setup already gives this one a different feel. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski is lined up to start for Los Angeles, while Jeffrey Springs gets the ball for Oakland, a pairing that shifts attention to how both lineups handle the first turn through the order.
Los Angeles also made a roster adjustment ahead of the game, recalling right-hander Wyatt Mills and designating Jonathan Hernndez for assignment. It adds another layer to a series that is still taking shape, especially with the Dodgers managing their pitching plan as they move through the week. [Read more 🡒]