The Athletics are running out of time to find a spark before the All-Star break, and this Tigers series may be their best shot at one.
At 41-49 and 5.5 games back of the A.L. West lead, the A’s have already taken a hit from a rough stretch that included a series loss to the defending champions and a sweep at the hands of the Marlins. Now the pressure is on to stop the slide and bank a win, because if they can’t do it here, the path forward only gets steeper.
One place the A’s can look for a lift is Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, who has been raking since his call-up. In his debut stretch, he’s hit .409 with a .935 OPS and four RBIs. That kind of production makes a strong case for moving him higher in the order, where he can either drive in more runners or be driven in himself.
A spot before Nick Kurtz or after Henry Bolte stands out as a logical move. Either way, the idea is the same: get Kuroda-Grauer into a position where his bat can create more damage. With the Athletics’ pitching struggling the way it has, every extra run matters, and a lineup tweak like that could provide a quick boost.
The pitching side may need a shakeup too. Jack Perkins and Jeffrey Springs have both been scuffling lately, and it may be time to give someone else a turn in Game Two or Three. Jacob Lopez and Kade Morries are the names mentioned as possible alternatives, and while neither is presented as a perfect answer, a change could be enough to help the A’s steal the series.
Jonah Heim is another player the Athletics can’t afford to sit. Since Brent Rooker’s season-ending knee surgery, Heim has been the team’s primary designated hitter, and the expectation here is simple: he should be in the lineup every day in this series.
That point was reinforced by what Heim did against the Marlins. He was left out of the lineup in Game 1 and Game 3, then inserted back in before first pitch. In Game 3, he delivered in a big way, going 2-for-4 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the eighth and a two-run single in the ninth.
The message from all of it is clear. The A’s need offense, and Heim is one of the best ways to get it. More Heim means more pressure on the Tigers, and more pressure is exactly what the Athletics need right now.
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 🡒]