Happy Tuesday A’s fans!
Last night, the Athletics kicked off their penultimate homestand of the season with a 6-5 walk-off victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The A’s ability to cobble together a competent pitching staff was the team’s biggest concern entering the season, and boy, has that come to fruition. The team has the worst ERA in baseball, and unlike last season, it is not as if the A’s are only pitching badly at home. Their 4.58 road ERA is bad, yet it pales in comparison to the team’s 6.33
ERA at Sutter Health Park. Making matters worse, the Green and Gold have allowed an unfathomable 135 home runs in 70 home games, as opposing teams have teed off at the minor-league ballpark.
The Athletics’ bullpen has been a major problem, blowing countless leads. However, that unit has started to turn things around recently, thanks to strong performances from the likes of Scott Blewett, Chris Roycroft, Brady Basso and Seth Johnson.
Those four pitchers could be strong contributors next year, along with the mostly solid duo of Luis Medina and Hogan Harris. Nevertheless, it would behoove the team to add a proven late-inning reliever via free agency or trade. The A’s also desperately need a veteran starter to stabilize a rotation that has been too inconsistent this year.
The team’s defense has not helped its pitching staff. According to DRS, they’re the fourth-worst defensive team in the majors. While Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz have shown improvement at shortstop and first base, respectively, Lawrence Butler has been inconsistent in right field, and Carlos Cortes has been an abject disaster at both outfield corner positions. Yet, it is important to remember that the main core of this team has hardly played together this year because of injuries. With all the starters returning at full health, the team’s defense has a strong chance to improve in 2027.
How should the Athletics approach the rest of this season and the upcoming offseason? What adjustments need to be made to spur this team back into contention?
A’s Coverage:
- A’s Walk Off Blue Jays 6-5
- Mariners Defeat A’s 2-0 in Road Trip Finale
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Bi-Polar Performance Arcs Make Evaluation Difficult
- A’s Escape Texas With A Win, Beat Rangers 9-2
- A’s Designate José Suarez For Assignment
- White exits with back tightness as A’s injury woes continue
- It’s Been a Bummer Summer in Sacramento
- The A’s valuation rises with sales of 2 MLB clubs as Las Vegas move looms
- Your 2026 Hacktastic A’s
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Daejon Love case brings back Eric Byrnes’ bizarre story of an A’s bat boy impersonation
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
- How defensive whiz Clarke’s return will impact A’s
- How A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell brought taking a knee to MLB and what happened afterwards
- A’s Plan to Test Top Pitching Prospect Jamie Arnold at Next Level
- 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
- Behind the Plate, the A’s Face an Offseason Reckoning
- 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:
- MLB players on salary cap, CBA talks, potential lockout, more
- Previewing the top MLB free agents for the 2026-2027 offseason
- Judge is back! Yanks activate captain after 3 months on IL
- 250 for 250: Top 10 individual seasons
- 32-year-old journeyman throws first individual perfect game in Minors since 2017
- Luzardo K’s 12 in 1st career shutout as Phils earn pivotal split with Braves
- Umpire Doug Eddings apologizes to Cardinals pitcher Hansel Rincon after MLB reportedly reprimanded him for telling rookie to straighten crooked cap
- MLB hot seat: Which managers and execs have jobs on the line this month?
- Rookie of the Year races in AL, NL coming to conclusion as favorites pull away
- Cheers, then TWO homers! Rutschman makes memorable Camden return
- New Rays Owner: Stadium Deal Should Lead To Significant Payroll Increase
- Each team’s hottest pitching prospect right now
- Ranking the 10 most impactful Trade Deadline moves, one month later
- Mike Trout on ‘needed’ sale of Angels: It’s a ‘fresh start’
- Angels Notes: Stadium, Trout, Front Office
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Congrats to the Athletics’ Single-A affiliate Stockton Ports. They will join the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators as the A’s minor league affiliates headed to the postseason.
Worth a listen if you want to catch up on developments across the A’s farm system.
The A’s released their 2027 spring training schedule a few days ago despite the possibility that an offseason CBA lockout could lead to a delayed or cancelled season next year.
