Happy Wednesday A’s fans! Today the team vies for the sweep against the Seattle Mariners, aiming to extend its road winning streak to eight games.
Entering this season, the Athletics offense was expected to be a potent bunch capable of striking for multiple runs at any point in the game and erasing early deficits created by bad pitching performances. Through 23 games, that has been the case, especially late in games. In the team’s lone victory in its three-game series this past weekend against the Chicago
White Sox, the A’s fell behind 5-0 early only to chip away with a run every inning and eventually tie the game on first baseman Nick Kurtz’s two-run home run in the seventh inning. The A’s wound up completing the comeback and winning that dramatic game in the 11th inning on Max Muncy’s game-winning sacrifice fly.
Following a loss on Sunday, the team regrouped and opened its three-game series at the Seattle Mariners with another comeback victory on Monday night. Once again, the team fell behind early, yet did not panic. They hit three solo home runs to tie the game and then took the lead for good with a three-run eighth inning.
If the A’s are able to complete the road sweep today, that would send a loud early-season statement to the defending American League West champions.
Kurtz is starting to heat up at the plate when he gets the chance to hit. The reigning American League Rookie of the Year has recorded a walk in 12-straight games. He is three games shy of tying all-time great Rickey Henderson atop that team record. Shortstop Jacob Wilson is also starting to collect more hits, although he still gets himself out too much by attempting to hit every pitch he sees whether it’s above his head or below his knees.
In the bullpen, relievers Joel Kuhnel and Jack Perkins have performed well since their call-ups. Given Perkins’ injury history and the team’s multitude of young pitchers and nearly MLB ready top prospects, it may behoove the team to keep him in relief, possibly as the A’s new closer. Escaping that 11th inning bases-loaded no-outs situation against the White Sox on Saturday and then his two-inning save yesterday against the Mariners shows that Perkins has the stuff and moxie to succeed in this stressful role.
What do you want to see out of the Athletics during the last week of April? What does the team have to do to continue this early-season success into May?
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics take down Mariners 5-2
- It Might Be Time For Some Crosby Love
- Lawrence Butler’s Rough Start Comes With a Big Asterisk
- Lawrence Butler Says He Wants Mariners Fans to “Go Home Sad”
- A’s roster moves: Basso recalled, Barnett optioned
- Do-Overs For (Almost) Everyone In The AL West
- Today Is A Day Of Special Meaning — For More Than One Reason
- A’s Top Pitching Prospects Are Dominating to Start 2026
- A’s top prospect Leo De Vries pops his first two homers of the season at Double-A
- Armchair 101: The Challenge Of Judging Decisions In Real Time
- AN Exclusive: Blogfather Observes The Wild Denzelope In Its Natural Habitat
- AN Exclusive: Blogfather Toes The Rubber With Pitching Coach Scott Emerson
- AN Exclusive: Blogfather Catches Up With Starting Pitcher Jacob Lopez
MLB News and Interest:
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- Former Ohio substitute teacher makes first appearance in front of hometown crowd
- Taiwanese fans go out of their way to thank Fairchild for epic Classic
- 2026 MLB draft rankings: Top 85 prospects, mini-mock draft
- MLB 2026: Inside the rise of 100 mph pitching velocity
- Small market MLB teams are outperforming big payrolls
- Giants place red-hot rookie Susac on IL with elbow injury
- Ohtani extends on-base streak to 53, tying for longest in LA history
- Cubs’ Craig Counsell Calls Out ‘Bizarre’ MLB Rule That Helps Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
- Phillies’ Zack Wheeler set to return Saturday vs. Braves
- To the moon! Murakami homers in 4th straight game in historic start
- Aaron Boone: Cole needs more rehab outings
- Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier Projected To Return In 5-7 Weeks
- Guardians’ Austin Hedges gets engaged on field following game
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Athletics prospects Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Jamie Arnold played well with the Double-A Midland Rockhounds last night. Flashing more power potential has Kuroda-Grauer’s stock on the rise within the team’s farm system.
Meanwhile, Arnold may earn a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas sooner than later if the left-hander continues pitching as well as he did yesterday.
The A’s ability to continue their road success could prove pivotal given how challenging it is to win games at the hitter’s paradise that is Sutter Health Park.
