The Athletics are one win from a sweep of the Mariners, and that sentence alone would have sounded wild not long ago. After getting swept by the Orioles and dropping the first two games of the Rangers series, the A’s have suddenly caught fire in a way that has turned heads. It may not change the bigger picture much, but it does serve as a loud reminder of how dangerous this club can look when it’s healthy.
Jeffrey Springs was the biggest reason this one stayed under control. He delivered what was easily one of the most efficient starts by an Athletics pitcher this season, working 7.0 innings and giving up only two hits and two walks. He did it on just 81 pitches through seven, which is the kind of number this team hasn’t been able to count on from its more dependable starters.
Even with that kind of outing, there’s still going to be some caution attached to Springs the next time he takes the mound. Statistically, he remains one of the worst pitchers on the roster, and this group has already seen pitchers flash improvement only to slide right back the next time out. For now, the only honest answer is that time will tell whether Springs has actually turned a corner.
The bullpen picture has shifted again, too. Elvis Alvarado looked like he might emerge as the face of the Athletics’ relief corps after allowing just two runs in 12.0 innings in August, but a week away from pitching seems to have thrown him off rhythm.
Over his last 2.0 innings, he has allowed four hits and two runs. He didn’t completely unravel the game, but the closer carousel appears to be spinning once more, with Hogan Harris taking over the role full-time.
Even so, Alvarado probably shouldn’t be written off after the longest gap between appearances he’s had all season.
The offense kept rolling right along. Over the last four games, the A’s have averaged 7.25 runs per game, well above the 2026 MLB average of 4.48. That kind of production has come from nowhere with so many key bats on the IL, which makes the surge even more surprising.
In this win, the Athletics piled up nine hits, launched two home runs and scored six runs. Lawrence Butler went deep to push his hitting streak to 14 games, and Max Muncy added another homer for his second straight game with a long ball. Seven of the nine Athletics batters recorded a hit, a sign that this run is being fueled by more than just a couple of hot hands.
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As the offseason approaches, the As are expected to weigh roster moves that could help stabilize the rotation and give them a better chance to push forward next year. The broader question is how aggressively they choose to address those needs, especially with a few players drawing attention as possible trade pieces and others making a case to stay in the mix. For an Oakland team trying to move from frustration to progress, the answer could shape not just the winter, but the shape of a playoff push down the line. [Read more 🡒]