The Athletics’ slide has turned into something more than a rough patch, and the loss to the Dodgers only added to the concern. Less than a month after sitting atop the A.L.
West, they now look in danger of being pushed out of the race altogether. Injuries keep stacking up, the schedule before the break is brutal, and the margin for error is disappearing fast.
The biggest issue right now is on the mound, and the starting rotation is the part that stands out most. Jeffrey Springs had a rough outing, allowing eight hits, two home runs and six runs while also issuing four walks.
His pitch count climbed to 92, and only 52 of those pitches were strikes, a 56.5% rate. Even after showing some improvement against the Giants, he hasn’t done enough to secure much more runway.
At this point, the Athletics may have to look for answers elsewhere in the rotation, with Kade Morris worth watching after his strong Game 1 performance.
There are at least a few encouraging signs in the lineup. Colby Thomas has been uneven overall this season, but he has stepped up with Tyler Soderstrom on the injured list.
Over his last seven games, Thomas is batting .250 with a .800 OPS, plus two home runs and four RBIs. The Athletics’ offense has been stuck in neutral, but Thomas has given them real production.
He has also filled a valuable utility role this year, and if the front office decides to shuffle outfielders at the deadline, Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler are two names that could surface. For now, Thomas has earned attention, and a bigger role could be waiting if he keeps this up after Soderstrom returns.
Nick Kurtz, meanwhile, is going through the kind of slump that can drain the top end of a lineup. He was on pace for an MVP season, but the recent dip has made it much harder for him to separate himself.
That doesn’t mean the Athletics’ losing stretch is tied directly to Kurtz, but it certainly isn’t helping. In his last seven games, he’s hitting just .160 with a .160 SLG.
Against the Dodgers, he struck out three times and drew one walk. For the Athletics to stabilize before the All-Star break, that can’t keep going.
In Other News...
As Finally Gave Fans The Response They Needed Vs Dodgers
After getting rolled in the first two games of the set, the Athletics finally gave their fans something to sit with in Sacramento, beating the Dodgers 7-1 and snapping a four-game losing streak. J.T. Ginn set the tone by working six strong innings, and the lineup backed him with steady pressure, including home runs from Jonah Heim and Shea Langeliers as the As turned a rough stretch into a much-needed finish.
The offensive support kept coming beyond the long balls, with Nick Kurtz and Colby Thomas helping add to the cushion as Oakland climbed to 41 wins on the season. The win also sends the club into a day off with at least a little momentum, and after the way this series started, that reset probably feels just as important as the result itself. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Revisit A Familiar Bullpen Answer As Pressure Builds
The Royals are turning to a familiar arm as they try to steady a bullpen that has been hit hard this season. Kansas City signed right-hander Scott Barlow to a minor league contract, bringing back a pitcher who spent parts of six seasons in the organization before moving on to other stops, including a recent stint with Oakland.
Barlow most recently pitched for the Athletics, who let him go in June, and the Royals are hoping he can provide needed depth as they sort through a relief group that has struggled to keep runs off the board. Even if his role ends up being modest at first, the move gives Kansas City another veteran option to evaluate as pressure builds on the bullpen. [Read more 🡒]
A's Move On From Brett Harris As Infield Questions Keep Growing
Brett Harris is moving on from another infield logjam in Oakland, as the Athletics sent the infielder to Boston in a trade that brought back minor league right-hander Ben Hansen. Harris had been designated for assignment earlier in the week to clear space for Joshua Kuroda-Grauers promotion, a reminder that the As are still sorting through their young infield mix while trying to keep the roster flexible.
For Harris, the deal closes a chapter that began when Oakland drafted him in the seventh round in 2021 and carried him through parts of three big league seasons. For the As, Hansen arrives as a relief-type arm who has already been assigned to High-A, adding another developmental pitcher to a system that is still trying to build depth wherever it can find it. [Read more 🡒]