The Athletics may have come away from the Guardians series empty-handed, but a few players still managed to give the club something to hang onto.
Jack Perkins was the clearest bright spot on the pitching side. For the second straight series, he stood alone as the Athletics’ top starter, and this one came with the kind of line the club would take every time out.
In his last 12.2 innings, Perkins has posted a 0.71 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP. That stretch has started to look like a real groove, even if it may arrive a little late with just one scheduled start left this season.
There’s also a bigger-picture angle with Perkins. If this recent run carries over, it could point to a useful role for him as a reliever next year.
Luis Medina has been just as impressive, maybe more so. Over his last 14.0 innings, he has put up a 1.93 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP, and over his last 6.2 innings he has allowed only one hit.
That’s as sharp as it gets. Against Cleveland, Medina worked two one-inning outings and got three outs in each.
The next step, as the season turns toward next year, is simple enough: stretch those appearances out.
On the position-player side, Zack Gelof remains one of the most important names in the lineup, even with his recent dip. Over the last 30 days, he has hit .219 with a .697 OPS and 14 RBIs, which is a step down from the pace he set earlier in the year. For the season, though, the numbers still stand out: a .252 average, a .770 OPS, 19 home runs, and 50 RBIs.
With so many players on the injury list, the Athletics needed more series like the one Gelof delivered against the Guardians. His mix of speed, power, and defense has left a heavy load on his shoulders, and that’s why he’s been asked to carry the case as the club’s second-half MVP. The results haven’t fully matched that expectation, but the recent production hints at even more to come in 2027.
In Other News...
A's Infield Suddenly Looks Thin Even With Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Back
The As got a needed lift with Joshua Kuroda-Grauer back on the active roster, but the infield picture still feels more fragile than it did a week ago. Oakland reinstated the rookie from the 60-day injured list and cleared a spot by putting Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with left knee chondromalacia, a move that underscores how quickly the depth chart has thinned around the middle infield.
Kuroda-Grauer had made a strong early impression before his injury interruption, and his return gives the club at least one familiar glove and bat to lean on again. But the roster shuffle also came with another hit in the background, as J.T. Ginn was moved to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot, leaving Oakland with even less margin for error as it tries to piece together the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Two New A's Utility Pieces Are Making This Roster Decision Tough
In a season when injuries kept opening doors for the Athletics, a few players have turned those chance looks into something more permanent. Zack Gelof has already locked down a starting job and is expected to stay in the infield next season, but the more interesting roster conversation now centers on the two utility additions who gave the club real flexibility when it needed it most.
Donovan Walton and Alika Williams have both fit the kind of profile Oakland can use, players who can move around and help cover multiple spots without forcing the rest of the infield to shuffle too much. Walton arrived on a waiver claim and Williams came in a trade, and both have made enough of an impression that they are now part of a decision the A's will have to sort through when they start shaping next year's roster. [Read more 🡒]
A's Enter Angels Series With Three Pressure Points In Focus
The Athletics head into their series with the Angels with a few everyday concerns that go beyond the standings, even if the standings are part of the problem. Both clubs are sitting near the bottom of the AL West, but Oakland is also trying to sort out its own roster health and performance issues at the same time. Brady Basso has been pushed into the starting rotation because of injuries, and the need has been obvious enough that his role matters even more than the results of a single outing.
Shea Langeliers is back from injury, which should help stabilize the lineup, but his bat has not yet matched the expectation that comes with his return. On the brighter side, the bullpen has started to settle in, giving the As at least one area where the recent trend line points in a useful direction. Whether that relief can cover for the rotation and help the offense find a little more consistency is the bigger question as this series unfolds. [Read more 🡒]