Welcome to Thursday A’s fans!
The team has an off day today to recuperate and prepare to welcome their next series opponent to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. That opponent is the young, and heating up, Baltimore Orioles.
It wasn’t long ago Baltimore had seemingly waived the white flag on 2026. They’ve been hurt by injuries almost as tough as the A’s have this year. At the trade deadline last month the team made arguably the biggest trade on the position-player side of things this year when
they sent former #1 pick, All-Star and long-time catcher Adley Rutschman to the division-rival Boston Red Sox for a bevy of prospects.
When they made that deal they were only 2 1/2 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot, but Baltimore was also aware that they were four games under .500 with four teams to leapfrog. It was a sensible decision considering they have a younger catcher in Samuel Basallo locked up to a long-term deal. Rutschman wasn’t the only one dealt, getting shipped out along with outfielder Taylor Ward, reliver Taylor Wells, and starter Dean Kremer. Stock up on young prospects this year and hope for better health and luck next season seemed to be their approach at the deadline.
Since then however Baltimore has played themselves back into things, jumping two teams in the Wild Card race and now just two and a half games behind the Cleveland Guardians for that final playoff spot. They’re coming into this series on a two-game winning streak and looking like a team that’s ready to make a push for the playoffs. It’ll be the A’s job this weekend to be a brick wall and help put those dreams of September baseball further out of reach of the Orioles. And for the A’s, staying out of last place in the league is a motivating factor as well.
We don’t yet have official starter schedules for the series but we have a good idea of some of the arms that’ll be taking the mound this weekend. Friday night’s series opener is likely to see lefty Jacob Lopez. Who he faces is still undecided. It’ll be one of right-handers Brandon Young or Shane Baz. Young has been what the Orioles had hoped Baz would be, though neither are an intimidating matchup on the mound for the A’s. They’re beatable.
Thanks to the off day it could be either right-hander Jack Perkins on Saturday, which would keep the A’s rotation in order, or it could be the veteran lefty Jeffrey Springs, who would be pitching on regular rest. We’ll just have to wait and see how Mark Kotsay and the coaching staff want to approach Baltimore this weekend.
No game today but on the bright side the weekend is almost here. Have a great one guys.
A’s Coverage:
- This key change(up) could unlock big success for A’s prospect
- A’s Take Series With Finale Win Over Twins 7-4
- A’s Even Series with 4-2 Victory
- Separating The Wheat From The Chaff Not So Easy
- Amidst The Despair: The Position Player Talent Is There
- What Are The Next Steps For The A’s? ($)
- Where Each A’s Player’s Contract Stands Entering Offseason
- Why Athletics Will Have Scary Offense in 2027
- Red-hot Bolte looking to build on lessons from rookie season
- Underdog Athletics prospect Cole Conn playing like a big dog for Aviators
- Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
- A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass
- MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
- This key change(up) could unlock big success for A’s prospect
- Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season
MLB News and Interest:
- Astros owner says manager Joe Espada will finish season
- Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt Diagnosed With UCL Tear
- Sasaki exits in 4th inning with right middle finger blister
- Cubs set club record with 30th unanswered run over 3 games
- Ranking the top 10 free agents this offseason
- ‘No excuses’: Pratt pulled for not hustling before Brewers lose on throwing error
- Padres minor league coordinator released from ICE detainment
- Cubs, Austin Wynns Agree To Minor League Deal
- Yimi García Undergoes Thoracic Outlet Surgery
- The hottest hitting prospects right now — one for each club
- Farm systems with the best catching prospects
- From the Bronx to the beach, Yankees exec is headed to TV
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
A couple notable A’s prospects that are heading to the Arizona Fall League:
Early returns are fantastic for the Athletics’ first round pick this year:
Jeff McNeil coming on strong to end the season:
Very true:
