The Athletics have one game left, and for a few players, it may be the final audition.
That’s the backdrop heading into their season finale against the Astros, a game that carries extra weight because this has not been the season the Athletics hoped for, especially with the current state of the AL West. They’d like to end it with a little pride, but for Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Seth Johnson and Jonah Heim, the stakes are more personal than that.
Kuroda-Grauer has barely had anything to show since returning from injury. Literally, the only stat he has recorded is one walk.
That kind of quiet stretch can be forgiven to a point when a player is just getting back, but with position battles already simmering, he can’t afford to disappear in the finale. Even one hit - assuming he gets an at-bat - could help his case.
If he doesn’t produce, there’s a path for Alika Williams or Donovan Walton to leapfrog him in the Athletics’ second-base conversation next season.
Johnson’s situation is different, but no less important. After a slow start to his Athletics career, he has started to look like a usable reliever.
Now the team is leaning on him to open the game since the Brady Basso experiment is over. That makes this outing a big one for him, and the numbers point to some progress.
His 4.09 ERA in September shows an upward trend, especially when stacked against the 13.50 ERA he posted in August. Finish strong and he could help his chances of sticking.
Look like the pitcher he was earlier, with no real way to justify it otherwise, and he could be on the chopping block.
Heim also enters the game with plenty on the line. If he wants to stay with the team for the next few years, this is a chance to leave a mark.
He did have a solid outing in the second game of the series, but he still needs a true closing statement to wrap up the season. Without it, Heim will likely walk.
There’s also the broader issue of his market. Even if he’s thinking about earning interest from other teams, he still has to show he can be a Major League catcher. His production fell off sharply in the second half, and that has dragged down his stock enough that finding another suitor this offseason could be a tough sell.
In Other News...
Athletics Playoff Push Hinges On One Offseason Fix
The Athletics path forward this winter starts on the mound, where a weak pitching season left little doubt about the biggest item on the to-do list. To get back into the playoff conversation, the front office is expected to look at both trades and free agency to add stability to a rotation and bullpen that need more than just incremental help.
There is also some roster shuffling to consider if the club decides to make a bigger move, and the analysis around the team has already started to connect that search to a few familiar names. The offense could also be affected if Jeff McNeil is no longer in the picture, which would force Oakland to weigh outside help against internal options as it tries to fit the rest of the winter plan together. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Young Core Is Raising Hope Faster Than Fans Expected
The optimism around the Athletics young core has started to feel a little more concrete, not just aspirational. Nick Kurtz has flashed the kind of production that can speed up a rebuilding timeline, while Boltes second-half offensive surge gave the lineup another reason to believe there is real growth happening underneath the surface. Even amid the usual growing pains that come with a young roster, the early returns suggest the As may have more pieces worth building around than expected.
Lawrence Butler has been the clearest reminder that development can arrive quickly, and his second half gave Oakland a much-needed jolt. Gage Jump, meanwhile, showed why patience still matters, with inconsistency on the mound leaving his future tied as much to refinement as talent. If the Athletics can keep getting this kind of upward movement from multiple young players, the bigger question may not be whether the rebuild is working, but how soon it starts looking complete. [Read more 🡒]
Zack Gelofs Injury Just Took A Turn As Fans Didnt Expect
Zack Gelofs injury has taken an unusual and potentially significant turn, with the Athletics infielder now pursuing a legal route over the July incident at Comerica Park. The lawsuit names the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority, and it frames the play in question as a matter of ballpark safety rather than simply an unfortunate on-field collision.
According to the complaint, Gelofs knee struck exposed metal fencing because the padding there was inadequate, and the filing says the area was padded shortly after the incident. The case seeks compensation for a range of damages, leaving the broader question now centered on how the injury is being viewed and what comes next for a player whose season has already been affected. [Read more 🡒]