By Tim Byrnes
It’s a nice end to the worst 21-game stretch in the Athletics 123-year history in MLB.
The A’s showed their power and won the series finale versus the Minnesota Twins 14-3. This brutal stretch, where the A’s went 1-20, included losing streaks of eleven and nine games.
The win Thursday also ended one of the worst managerial streaks in recent memory. A’s skipper Mark Kotsay was ejected in the lone victory during the 21-game stretch, so he lost 20 games in a row that he managed to complete.
Kotsay has lost 102, 112, and 94 games over the last three seasons. After losing half of the A’s losses in 2025 in the previous three weeks, fans are wondering what it takes to get A’s owner John Fisher to consider a change of Manager.
Athletics Batting:
Hitting isn’t an issue for this team, as they are second in the American League in batting average at .256 (NYY .257) and hits at 563 (Boston 565).
The A’s are 4th in the AL in home runs (79) and RBIs (266), and all of those stats are a true team effort.
Shortstop Jacob Wilson showed pop in his bat this series with two doubles and another home run, his eighth. His .363 batting average and 86 hits are both second in the AL behind NYY superstar Aaron Judge and his mighty torpedo bat.
After a rough few games, RF Lamont Butler is on fire and contributing in many ways.
Second in the AL in doubles, Butler added three more versus the Twins with seven runs, three Rbi’s, two stolen bases, and a home run. He has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.
First Baseman Tyler Soderstrom, who is fifth in the AL in home runs and fourth in RBIs, added a triple, two home runs, and six RBIs against Minnesota.
According to ESPN’s Martin Gallegos, Seth Brown is expected to rejoin the club after clearing waivers, and his leadership is expected to help this young team.
Until sent outright to AAA Las Vegas, Brown was the longest-tenured player on the A’s roster.
Athletics Pitching:
The worst ERA in MLB (5.79), while giving up the most home runs (97), is not gonna win many games.
In the four-game Twins series, the A’s started three relief pitchers to try to manage the crisis, to mixed success.
Right-hander Mitch Spence pitched five innings of one-run ball in his first start in his 23 appearances in 2025. He was slated as a possible #5 starter going into spring training but lost out to RHP Joey Estes. He may remain a starter, as Gunnar Hoglund was placed on the 15-day IL.
Help is arriving with RHP Michael Kelly (2.87 career era) reinstated from a one-year suspension for betting on baseball in the minors.
TJ McFarland is the A’s best bullpen leftie, and he has been reinstated from the IL.
A’s #4 prospect RHP Luis Morales was promoted from AA-Midland to AAA-Las Vegas after 42.1 innings in eight starts with a solid 2.98 era and a 1.02 whip.
He promptly pitched six hitless innings in his first game at AAA, and a few more of those performances may get him an early trip to “The Show.”
Upcoming Series:
The Orioles versus Athletics at Sutter Health Park
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