By Tim Byrnes
A 2-1 series loss doesn’t usually make fans particularly optimistic but the weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians had a different feel to it.
Like the three game sweep in Kansas City versus the Royals, manager Mark Kotsay minimized and dare I say “managed” player pitch counts.
With the two teams scratching and clawing for every run in this low scoring series, pitcher usage mattered.
While the outcomes resulted in losing two-of-three games, some bad decision-making tendancies disappeared and the results should show in the next series against the Detroit Tigers.
Athletics Batting:
While continuing to lead the American League in hits, and be in the Top 5 in most offensive categories, the power in the A’s bats no-showed for nearly the entire series.
First baseman Nick Kurtz continued to pound the ball in game one of the series and hit a 406 foot 2-run home run; his third straight game doing so. At that point he had homered in five of his last six games for the Athletics, and from there the A’s only managed two more extra-base hits the rest of the series.
Left field Tyler Soderstrom saw the ball well all series, scattering five hits and DH Brent Rooker continued to be consistent at the plate. Both players had hits in every game and were the primary run scorers for the team.
Second base Luis Urias and RF Lawrence Butler batted (.333) against the Guardians with four hits each, in the stat numbing weekend.
Butler continues to strikeout at a high clip for a leadoff hitter and currently sits at 93 k’s in 304 plate appearances on the year.
SS Jacob Wilson is in his first rookie slump, with only a single in eleven bats versus Cleveland last weekend. He still sits comfortably second in MLB batting averages at (.349), second only to NYY Aaron Judge (.367).
With 3B Gio Urshela hitting (.375) since coming back off 10-day IL, A’s fans are wondering why he isn’t getting more playing time. 3B Max Muncy is mired in a 1-for-16 slump with nine strikeouts and Urshela has to be considered as a possible permanent starter at 3B.
Athletics Pitching:
SP Jeffrey Springs pitched into the eighth inning of the series opener, a rarity for A’s starters, and notched the lone win versus Cleveland.
RHP Mitch Spence started the season with 22 relief appearances and pitched his fourth consecutive start over the weekend. He gave up four doubles and four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched and took a loss.
JP Sears (5-7) held Cleveland to three earned runs over five innings but had zero help from A’s bats and took the loss in the finale 3-0.
The relievers had an outstanding series and noone made more than one appearance.
A’s relievers allowed no runs on four hits over ten innings. They kept the walks down with a 13/3 strike-to-walk count and noone pitched outside their normal pitch count average.
Another Rookie:
After posting a (.55) era and holding hitters to a (.094) batting average at AAA Las Vegas in June, RHP Jack Perkins was promoted to “The Show.”
Perkins pitched an outstanding three innings of one hit ball in his debut.
An Athletics 5th Round pick(#154) in the 2022 MLB Draft, Perkins had an amazing 13.91 k’s per 9 innings in the minors in 2025.
Primarily a starter in the minors, it will be interesting to see if Kotsay uses him in middle relief or as a starter going forward.
Upcoming Series:
The Athletics (32-48) travel to Michigan to take on the first place Detroit Tigers (49-30) of the AL Central.
The Tigers hold an advantage over the A’s in that they are one of the few teams as strong on offense as the Athletics. The advantage is that Detroit pitching allows nearly two LESS runs a game.
Gametime:
RHP Luis Severino (2-7, 4.42) versus reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubel (8-2, 2.06)
June 24, 2025 340pm
Comerica Park
Detroit, Michigan
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