The Athletics enter their series against the Cubs in the midst of their most difficult stretch of the season, having lost seven of their last nine games. A recent home sweep at the hands of division rival Seattle dropped them to second place in the AL West for the first time in a while, and the slide continued this weekend with two losses in three games against the Yankees. As June begins, the A’s sit three games under .500, raising concerns among fans because a similar midseason downturn derailed last year’s team around the same time.
Much of Oakland’s recent trouble has come from the pitching staff, which has not met expectations and has been hit hard by injuries and inconsistency. Veteran right-hander Luis Severino has been up and down and was placed on the injured list this weekend. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs started strong early in the season but has regressed in recent outings, while offseason acquisition Aaron Civale has struggled in his last two starts. Jacob Lopez’s difficulties have been even more severe, and after being roughed up by the Yankees on Sunday, he was sent to Triple-A.
There have been some encouraging signs on the mound. Right-hander J.T. Ginn appears to be emerging as a breakout starter, posting a 2.87 ERA on the season and a 2.56 ERA over 10 starts since moving into the rotation. The Athletics also promoted top pitching prospect Gage Jump, who will make his second career start in the opener of the series. Thursday’s starter has not yet been announced, though right-hander Kade Morris is expected to make his big league debut soon.
The bullpen has also been uneven. Rather than relying on a fixed closer, manager Mark Kotsay has used a committee approach all season. Four relievers already have at least three saves, but the unit has still cost the club in key moments and remains an area that needs improvement if the A’s hope to stay in the race through the summer.
Offensively, several of the team’s major investments have not produced as hoped. Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler have all been in season-long slumps despite the team’s confidence in them as key pieces. Nick Kurtz has shown strong on-base skills but has lost some of his power, while shortstop Jacob Wilson is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Still, the lineup has not been without bright spots. Catcher Shea Langeliers has been one of the team’s best hitters, batting .293/.365/.544 with 14 home runs while often hitting near the top of the order. Zack Gelof has also provided steady production at third base since Max Muncy’s injury opened up everyday playing time. Corner outfielder Carlos Cortes has been another surprise, leading the team with a .328 batting average while moving around the lineup. Rookie outfielder Henry Bolte, recently promoted, has also impressed through his first 17 games, adding speed and a different look to an offense that has leaned heavily on home runs in recent years.
The Cubs arrive at a favorable moment, facing an Athletics team dealing with injuries, rotation uncertainty, and inconsistent offense, even as both clubs remain in the postseason conversation.
