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Elephant Rumblings: Notes on a 3-3 home stand

2025-08-04T07:00:00-07:00

Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

The A’s followed up their impressive sweep of the Astros in Houston with a promising—if ultimately flat .500—six-game home stand.

The A’s got great performances from their top three starters, Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Jacob Lopez, who combined to allow just two runs through 18 innings in the three Athletics victories of the home stand.

With a 2-1 series victory over the Mariners and a 5-1 win in the series opener against the Diamondbacks, the A’s were poised to establish a truly impressive surge. But J.T. Ginn and Jack Perkins struggled in their starts, and the A’s offense couldn’t compensate for the six and seven runs scored by the D-Backs on Saturday and Sunday as Arizona ultimately prevailed in the series.

Sunday marked Perkins’s first career MLB start, and despite the loss, the 25-year-old righty has definitely shown enough promise to merit more opportunities.

Shea Langeliers had a great pair of series at the plate, going 9-for-25 with three doubles and his 19th home run of the season. As Martin Gallegos at MLB.com observed, Shea’s next dinger will make him just the fifth catcher in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs in three of four seasons to start a big league career.

JJ Bleday had a stellar game in yesterday’s loss, his first MLB start since late June. The former first rounder has struggled greatly at the big league level this year, but he went 4-for-4 with a double and a home run, a hopeful sign that he may return to his 2024 form; the outfielder hit for a 120 wRC+ last season.

Former Athletic Kendall Graveman tallied his 500th career strikeout against Brent Rooker in Sunday’s game. Graveman spent four seasons as a starter in Oakland prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018. The 34-year-old righty has pitched in relief for four different teams since then.

The A’s head east tomorrow for their next road trip, with stops in Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Have a fantastic week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Hope for positive news on Urías.

Luis Urías left the game with lower back spasms, per A’s.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) August 3, 2025

Breaking off the mouthguard like Kit Kat.

Strong guy Nick Kurtz pic.twitter.com/NeB7Bq4sTB
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 3, 2025

A solid day for De Vries.

Series split

Leo De Vries: 1-2, R, 2B, RBI
Ben Newton: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Mark Adamiak (S, 17): 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, K#GoNuts pic.twitter.com/jYZYJ0QkhI
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 3, 2025

But did they sign him?

Portland Pickles selected a random fan to take an at bat and he homered pic.twitter.com/tWCJP7Y7TY
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 3, 2025

Athletics drop series finale 6-4 to D-backs

2025-08-03T16:04:59-07:00

JJ Bleday went 4-4 with a homer in today’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Bleday goes 4-4 with a homer in return

Looking to take yet another series against a western rival, the Athletics faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks today at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Jack Perkins got the start today against Eduardo Rodriguez for the D-backs. Perkins escaped with just a threat in the first but didn’t have the same luck in the second. Walks and singles bit him as he walked in the first run with bases loaded and then a sac fly and single made the score 3-0.

The A’s got something going against Rodriguez in the bottom of the second, loading the bases on a leadoff double by Austin Wynns, a single by recent call-up JJ Bleday and a walk by Gio Urshela. But Max Schueman ground into a 5-3 double play.

With two outs in the top of the third, Tyler Locklear walked and stole second. He scored on an Alek Thomas single, increasing the D-backs lead to 4-0. Ben Bowden replaced Perkins in the top of the fourth. Perkins final line for the day was three innings, four earned runs on five hits, three walks and he struck out four.

Osvaldo Bido replaced Bowden in the top of the fifth inning. He tossed a quick 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the fifth, JJ Bleday singled, Gio Urshela singled and Max Schuemann dropped down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position. All-world rookie Nick Kurtz singled to right, driving both runners in. That tightened the score to 4-2 at the end of five.

Kurtz with the✌️rbi hit pic.twitter.com/kp1PVIl2x4
— Athletics (@Athletics) August 3, 2025

Elvis Alvarado entered the game to pitch the top of the seventh. With two outs, Blaze Alexander hit his first homer of the year to put the Diamondbacks lead at 5-2. The A’s continued to show grit fighting back in the bottom of the seventh. JJ Bleday led off with his third hit of the day, a double down the right field line. Two ground outs moved him to third and then home, getting back the run Arizona scored in the top of the inning.

Sean Newcomb entered the game to pitch the top of the eighth inning. Newcomb sent them down in a row striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Michael Kelly replaced Newcomb in the ninth. With one out Jose Herrera singled and Corbin Carrol walked. Blaze Alexander singled to center scoring Herrera. Geraldo Perdomo singled to load the bases still with just one out. Kelly struck out his final two batters to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, JJ Bleday homered to tighten the score at 6-4. That gave Bleday a 4-4 day. Unfortunately, that was the only run they could muster, and they dropped the game and the series. Tonight, they’ll head to Washington, DC to face off against the Nationals.

Game #114: A’s vs. Diamondbacks Game Thread

2025-08-03T12:00:00-07:00

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Going for the series victory in the finals

The A’s are prepared to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series finale, with both teams vying for a series win after splitting the first two contests of this weekend series. Time to wrap up the home stand with a win before hitting the road this week.

Rookie Jack Perkins will get the ball this afternoon in the finale, his first career starting assignment. The intriguing and lively arm had performed well in his eight relief appearances so far, tossing 19 ²⁄₃ frames with a solid 2.75 ERA to show for it. He’s also punched out 19 batters compared to just seven free passes. His longest outing with the A’s so far has been 3 ¹⁄₃ innings but he should be able to go five full frames if he can be economical with his pitch count. Let’s hope the nerves of his first start don’t get to the rookie right-hander.

Here’s how the starting nine looks for this afternoon’s finale against the Diamondbacks:

Today's lineup vs. Arizona - Aug. 3, 2025 at Sutter Health Park pic.twitter.com/nstAXny2sU
— A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) August 3, 2025

Lots of backups in there today. Max Schuemann is leading things off for the A’s and manning third base today. And Brent Rooker will grab his glove and head out to right field while Shea Langeliers gets a half-day off and will be the DH for the finale. That means Austin Wynns is behind the plate catching Perkins for his first start. Rookie outfielder and one of the top prospects in the organization Colby Thomas draws the start in center field while fellow outfielder JJ Bleday gets his first start since rejoining the team a few days ago. A fun mix of rookies and veterans in the lineup for the finale.

That new lineup will be going up against Arizona starting pitching Eduardo Rodriguez. The 10-year veteran has struggled to a bloated 5.64 ERA through 18 starts this year, one of multiple arms that let the Snakes down this year. The A’s need to take advantage of the struggling 32-year-old.

Here is the lineup that Perkins will be facing for his first career start:

Last one on the road. https://t.co/epBmrbYHsx is only $17.99 for the rest of the season! pic.twitter.com/wZwK1M4YJf
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 3, 2025

Both teams are out of the postseason hunt but there’s still pride on the line. Time to secure the 50th victory of the year. Let’s go A’s!

A’s Fall To Diamondbacks 7-2

2025-08-02T22:14:44-07:00

Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images

Not a great night for the Green & Gold

The A’s dropped the middle game of their three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, falling 7-2 to set up the pivotal runner match tomorrow afternoon.

Right-hander JT Ginn got the start tonight, his third since rejoining the rotation. His first two were very successful as he allowed just one run in both outings combined so he was hoping to continue his little roll he’s got going.

There would be no shutout today as the second batter of the game took Ginn deep to give Arizona a quick lead. From there he settled in, walking just a couple of hitters while allowing no more hits.

The A’s now needed to get to work to pick up their starter. It took a while to break through against Arizona starter Zac Gallen but they managed to briefly take the lead when Tyler Soderstrom smoked a two-run double in the third:

Sodey puts us in the lead pic.twitter.com/nBUrUBsTDk
— Athletics (@Athletics) August 3, 2025

That lead wouldn’t last long. Ginn ran into major trouble in the fifth, allowing three runs and unable to finish the frame.

-JT Ginn: 4 ¹⁄₃ IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 85 pitches.

Not a great appearance from Ginn, and the five walks were especially uncharacteristic of the control-minded arm. He’ll look to correct those issues next time, when he will take on the Baltimore Orioles next weekend.

After Ginn came Justin Sterner, who allowed another run, followed by rookies Ben Bowden and Eduarniel Nuñez, who was making his team debut tonight. His first appearance didn’t go great as he also allowed another run, but surely that was nerves. Michael Kelly handled the ninth, an inning he should be pitching in a lot more the rest of the season.

As for the offense they didn’t get much else going outside of that Soderstrom double. Gallen and the Snakes’ bullpen kept the A’s in check as they worked the pitching staff, a recipe for an easy loss.

The A’s now sit at 49-64 as they prepare to take on the Snakes in the finale tomorrow. They still have a chance to win the series if they give their best efforts tomorrow. Rookie Jack Perkins will get the ball tomorrow afternoon, his first career start. He’ll be opposed by veteran Diamondback Eduardo Rodriguez. Should be a good one!

Game #113: Athletics vs. Diamondbacks Game Thread

2025-08-02T18:00:00-07:00

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

We can win the series with a victory tonight

The A’s will go for their second straight win tonight when they welcome the Diamondbacks back for their second game of this three game set.

On the bump tonight will be right-handed JT Ginn, who will be making his third start since rejoining the rotation. His first two went spectacularly as he tossed five innings of one run ball and then six shutout frames last time out. The club would love more of the same tonight against a Dbacks teams in free fall.

The starting lineup tonight:

Today's lineup vs. Arizona - Aug. 2, 2025 at Sutter Health Park pic.twitter.com/cHhHo1yg6g
— A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) August 2, 2025

The Diamondbacks starter tonight will be Zac Gallen. The right-hander has a strong track record but his 2025 season hasn’t gone according to plan. Through 22 starts the veteran has a below-average 5.60 ERA, so the A’s lineup should be able to muster some damage against Gallen.

Arizona’s lineup for the middle contest tonight shapes up like this:

Saturday night baseball. https://t.co/epBmrbYHsx is only $17.99 for the rest of the season! pic.twitter.com/KHXWsIpmlo
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 2, 2025

Let’s go A’s!

Saturday Post Trade Deadline Potpourri: Closers And Schadenfreude Edition

2025-08-02T10:40:01-07:00

Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

At the trading deadline the A’s were sellers, something that was decried in May by the baseball gods when they sentenced the team to an inexplicable 1-20 stretch. Outside of that time the A’s are 48-43.

The A’s indeed sold, shipping star closer Mason Miller to the Padres for wunder-prospect Leo De Vries and 3 pitching prospects.

Meanwhile the A’s former neighbors, the San Francisco Giants, became unexpected sellers when a great season turned positively “May A’s” on them at a most inopportune time: the 2 weeks leading up to the deadline.

These developments are the basis for Saturday’s potpourri, which you can stir in a butter churn and pretend you are Nick Kurtz.

Miller Trade

This trade reveals the split personality a fan like me can have. The fan in me is sad to lose one of the most exciting pitchers in the game, one who actually attracts the attention and envy of fans and writers across the country, one who put the A’s on the map when they are so often overlooked.

But the cold analyst in me loves the trade, as most pundits do, and it’s hard not to get excited about what Leo De Vries might become even if it’s a bit down the road because he’s only 18. The comps to Francisco Lindor do not appear to be far fetched. Plus, the pitchers the A’s got back were a worthy trio to roll the dice with.

The perception, of course, is that the A’s had to be willing to get worse for 2026 in order to get better long term. But that may be a false narrative in that if the A’s only get a touch worse at closer, and improve enough elsewhere, it could be a net gain not a net loss.

How can that happen? One way is that a recently acquired prospect such as Braden Nett or Henry Baez could be spun in the off-season to add a 3Bman or lefty-mashing OFer, or even a plus reliever.

Another way is that the A’s can produce a solid closer a number of ways between now and March, 2026. Just in theory they already have 4 pitchers who could potentially become quality closers. If they wanted to (and they don’t) the A’s could put Jack Perkins or Luis Morales in the closer’s spot and both have the tools to excel. If Elvis Alvarado or the just-acquired Eduariel Nuñez can refine their command enough, both have the stuff to close, as we’ve seen recently with Alvarado during a nice run.

But the A’s next closer doesn’t need to be in the organization right now and he could be plenty good. The free agent market will have several quality closers looking for teams and the A’s will have the payroll flexibility to make a very competitive offer, even an overpay in dollars and/or years. Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglasias are two examples, even Tyler Rogers who hasn’t closed but is one of the league’s best relievers.

Or the A’s can explore the off-season trade market with a plus reliever in mind. They have certainly deepened the farm, especially on the pitching end, and have some appealing young arms to offer teams whose bullpens are deep but need help in their current or future rotation.

Ironically a team the A’s could talk to this winter is the San Diego Padres. Once they have this “all in” 2025 season in the rear view mirror, the Padres may feel they have enough depth with Robert Suarez and Mason Miller that they can deal another electric arm in Jeremiah Estrada in order to improve elsewhere on the diamond — or rebuild the farm they just decimated with their deadline deals. Estrada (66 K in 48.2 IP, 2.59 ERA) is a stud whose addition would make Miller’s loss sting a lot less.

So just saying, don’t give up on the 2026 team — if this 7-1 stretch, achieved without Jacob Wilson or Denzel Clarke or Max Muncy, has shown anything it’s that when the A’s pitch the A’s win. There is an incredibly talented core of position players in the current mix and a lot of pitching talent arriving.

Closers can be developed, found, or signed or dealt for. It’s one spot and now the A’s need to figure out how best to fill it.

A Giants Step Back

I don’t bring up the Giants for schadenfreude as the headline suggests. More it’s to remind myself and all of you that some of the aggravating things we see with the A’s are not unique to the green and gold.

Coming out of the All-Star break the Giants had a 12 game run to the trading deadline. Neck and neck with the Padres and others for the third and final wild card spot, and still very much alive in the NL West, the Giants just kept losing to end July on a 2-12 skid, 2-10 after the ASB.

And as the month closed they perfected the art of the devastating loss. Their last 5 games, in which they were 0-5, they lost by a total of 7 runs: 3 one-run losses and 2 two-run losses.

But it got even more A’s-y than that. The Giants played with the fundamentals of a bad Little League team. In the Pirates series (a 3 game sweep) Heliot Ramos alone was a one-man wrecking crew on the bases — wrecking his own team, that is.

One game Ramos was on 2nd base with 2 outs when a dribber to 3B was an infield hit. Except Ramos started for 3B, then stopped, and then for some reason decided to start again and run to 3B, where of course the tag was waiting for him because that’s exactly where the fielder and the ball were.

Then the next day Ramos outdid even himself. He was again on 2nd this time with a runner also a 1B and 1 out. A pop up between 3B and home invoked the infield fly rule. When Ke’Bryan Hayes let the ball drop onto the grass the batter was still out and the runners had no obligation to go anywhere.

Apparently Ramos either didn’t know or forgot the rules because he started to run to 3B even though he had no chance to actually make it. Far from being “forced” to run the base he was fully entitled to was 2B — the base he was about 20 feet from when he was tagged out to end the inning.

The Giants’ slide also featured outfield communication fails, cut-off man fails, and an entire “0 for the series” 0 for 24 RISP fail. Sound familiar?

So it’s not just the A’s who show a complete lack of fundamentals, clutchiness, or ability to win games that are presented to them for the winning. Maybe it’s just a Bay Area thing now.

The A’s will try to get their 8th Ginn, I mean win, in 9 games tonight against Zac Gallen, who is exactly 8 times better than Riley Pint. First pitch is 7:05pm.

Athletics defeat Diamondbacks 5-1

2025-08-01T21:57:12-07:00

Shea Langeliers 2-run homer gave the A’s an early lead against the D-backs at home tonight. They’d go on to win 5-1. | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Extend win-streak to three games

After finishing off their third straight series victory over an American League West rival on Wednesday, the Athletics move on the National League West’s Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Getting the start tonight for the A’s is 27-year-old lefty Jacob Lopez. He’ll face Anthony DeSclafani for the Diamondbacks.

Lawrence Butler and Nick Kurtz led off the bottom of the first with singles. Brent Rooker drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring Butler. Then Shea Langeliers cleared the bases with a homer to left field. That gave the A’s a 3-0 lead in the first.

Bangeliers doin' Bangeliers things pic.twitter.com/PmwephKTA7
— Athletics (@Athletics) August 2, 2025

Soderstrom kept the inning alive with a double. He scored on a Carlos Cortes single. He moved to second when Luis Urías was hit by a DeSclafani sinker. Darell Hernaiz, the ninth batter of the inning grounded out to end the rally and the bottom of the first. But not before the A’s jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

After walking Cortes, DiSclafani was done with just one out in the bottom of the third. After a Luis Urías walk, Hernaiz flew out and Butler struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the A’s added a run when Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers each singled. Tyler Soderstrom doubled on a one-hopper over the right-centerfield wall. Rooker scored. Langeliers was right behind him, but he was forced to stop at third.

Sodey adds to the lead pic.twitter.com/8fwYKYA9mi
— Athletics (@Athletics) August 2, 2025

https://x.com/i/status/1951488274985525263

In the top of the sixth, Luis Morales made his MLB debut. He replaced Jacob Lopez who tossed ninety-five pitches in five innings, giving up no runs on five hits and two walks. Langeliers led off the bottom of the inning with a shattered bat double. But never advanced beyond third.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Jose Herrera singled and Ketel Marte doubled. Corbin Carrol hit a Sac Fly to get the D-backs on the board. The A’s still held the lead, 5-1.

Elvis Alvarado replaced Morales in the top of the eighth. He set down the Diamondbacks 1-2-3. The A’s were held at bay in the bottom of the eighth. Sean Newcomb entered in the ninth to slam the door on Arizona. He gave up a walk to Herrera but got Marte to ground out softly to Kurtz to end the game. The final score was 5-1 in favor of the A’s.

Game # 112, Athletics vs Diamondbacks Game Thread

2025-08-01T18:00:00-07:00

Jacob Lopez takes the mound for the A’s tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks. | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

A’s at Home to Face Arizona

After finishing off their third straight series victory over an American League West rival on Wednesday, the Athletics move on to the National League West’s Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Yesterday’s trade deadline deals changed both of these teams, but surprisingly the D-backs gave up more than the A’s did this season. Arizona traded off Randal Grichuk, Jordan Montgomery, Josh Naylor. Eugenio Suárez, Shelby Miller and Merrill Kelly (who was originally scheduled to start tonight). The A’s shipped Mason Miller and JP Sears to San Diego and Miguel Andujar to Cincinnati. The early consensus being that both deals are netting A’s players with future potential, and some nearing MLB ready status.

Getting the start tonight for the A’s is 27-year-old lefty Jacob Lopez. He’s 3-6 on the season with a 4.29 ERA over sixteen games. He’s never faced Arizona. Lopez will face off against Anthony DeSclafani for the Diamondbacks. The 35-year-old righty is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in twenty-three innings (just one start) for the season. He signed a free agent contract with Arizona on June 15, 2025.

DeSclafani will face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s Athletics:

Lopez will go up against this lineup for Arizona:

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