Welcome to Tuesday everyone!
The Athletics suffered massive injury issues this year with the majority of their starting lineup spending time on the injured list. No team can survive the onslaught of bumps and bruises that the team had this year and it showed in the final standings. If the team can’t stay healthy next year we’re looking at a repeat of 2026.
The injury bug hasn’t quite fallen asleep for the winter. Right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson has undergone surgery on his left knee, fixing an issue
that apparently hampered him all year long:
The right-hander’s first look with the A’s didn’t go all that well. He pitched in 12 games for the A’s after his mid-season trade from Philadelphia and allowed a whopping 12 runs in just 17 1/3 innings of work. Not what the team was hoping for when they acquired him for Colby Thomas at the trade deadline. Johnson has yet to really have any sort of success at the big league level since making his one-game big league debut in 2024, with a total of 39 appearances over the past three years.
Still, he was highly regarded enough for the A’s to trade Thomas, who was only two years ago considered one of the top prospects in the Athletics’ system. His numbers in Triple-A indicate that he could have success in the big leagues if he’s able to really put it together. Maybe the knee was holding him back this year. It is the one he plants on when he pitches after all. Either way, next season will be a big one for the 28-year-old, who will have an excellent chance to make his first Opening Day roster if he has a big spring training. For now, he’ll be focused on rehabbing that knee and getting as strong as possible before camp.
As for today’s playoff slate, we’re back in the National League after watching the AL matchups last night. The #2 seeded Dodgers let Game Two slip through their fingers and now head to Atlanta with the series tied 1-1. This Dodgers squad has looked old and beatable at times this year and Atlanta is giving it their best shot. This could end up going the full distance.
The Brewers meanwhile, even though they’ve had plenty of regular season success, have only made the NLCS once in that same time period. In fact, the last time they made the NLCS was in 2018, when they lost to…. the Dodgers. Milwaukee would love to avenge that loss nearly a full decade ago. It’s the matchup baseball wants and the one the fans need to see. Unless the Braves have something to say about that. It’ll be Yamamoto versus Sale in the Dodgers-Braves game, and Dustin May against Nick Pivetta in the nightcap between the Brewers and Padres.
First pitch between the Dodgers and Braves is at 6 PCT. Have a good one A’s fans.
A’s Coverage:
- ‘Be a sponge’: No. 19 prospect leads A’s Fall League group with do-it-all mentality
- Zack Of All Trades Tries To Get One More Win: In Court
- Important Dates For The Athletics This Offseason
- A’s part ways with assistant hitting, quality control coaches
- After an outfield collision left him paralyzed, every gain in rehab is a big win for A’s Ryan Lasko
- Athletics’ Zack Gelof sues Tigers after hitting metal fence
- A’s Las Vegas ballpark cost rises to $2.1B, public funding delayed
- 2026: Year Of The “Didn’t See That Coming!”
- A’s Hoping Luis Severino Chooses to Stay
- Where the A’s Plan to Use Zack Gelof in 2027
- A’S OPEN TO MOVING LUIS MEDIA BACK INTO ROTATION
- Last MLB game in West Sacramento? Why A’s 2026 season deserves a eulogy
- Perkins finishes intriguing season with another flash of potential
- ‘Road Trip Mike’ on the move to wherever his beloved A’s go
- Wheat/Chaff Updates As Season Winds Down
- Paralyzed A’s prospect Lasko released from rehab facility to ovation from staff
- Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
- Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
- Determining Athletics’ Offensive MVP for the 2026 Season
- Notes From Star-Studded Rockies-A’s Instructional League
- Injuries Out Of Control, But Why?
- 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Billy Beane comments on the job Mark Kotsay has done this season.
- Should Mark Kotsay return in 2027? A’s Players Weigh In
- What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
MLB News & Interest:
- Less than 2 years later, Crochet trade return trio paying huge dividends for Chicago
- Padres Activate Walker Buehler Onto NLDS Roster
- Was Miller tipping pitches? Closer — and Brewers’ skipper — both say no
- Mariners Announce Surgeries For Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor
- First home playoff clincher in 120 years? White Sox on cusp of making it happen
- Breslow, Tracy: Red Sox not overly reliant on analytics
- Roman Anthony Expected To Avoid Offseason Surgery
- Red Sox View Curtis Mead As Early Favorite For Second Base Job
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Very possible, if he’s still in the organization by then:
Crazy Yankees stat:
Tough to see Miller struggling on the biggest stage:
