MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

As the season winds down, the A’s have been playing some of their best baseball of the 2025 season.

Since the All-Star Game, the A’s are a fine 31-24, which is the third-best in the American League.

Surprisingly, its improved pitching that has fueled the surge in winning, with the staff enjoying a solid 3.86 era, over that period.

Yes, A’s starters have struggled all season but the bullpen has been lights out of late and the 3.86 era is also 3rd-best in the American League since the break.

Coming off of a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, A’s pitching scattered eight Boston hits to eek out a close 2-1 win in the opener.

The Athletics had to overcome the one-man wrecking crew of Trevor Story, who batted .625 for the series and stole his 30th+31st base without being caught in 2025.

He was later caught to end the streak.

Wednesday’s game was ” the one that got away” for the A’s when they left bases loaded once, and runners on first and third three additional times, with little to show for it.

In the 10th inning, they squandered a first & third with no outs by failing to score and Boston went on to win 5-4 in the bottom half of the inning.

The series finale saw early power translate into a close 5-3 win and another series victory.

With nine games remaining, the team looks to get as close to .500 as possible, and maybe disrupt some playoff dreams.

Athletics Batting:

The return of LF Tyler Soderstrom was a welcome sight, having hits in every game, and batting .400 for the series.

Joining Soderstrom, shortstop Jacob Wilson has also hit .400 during a five game hitting streak and he is looking to catch NYY Aaron Judge for the AL batting title.

Wilson is currently batting .320 to Judge’s .328, and as a rookie his average isn’t something seen every year.

While CF Lawrence Butler is hitting better of late, his 175 strikeouts in 2025 is the fourth worst in the American League, and with just 20 longballs he needs to work on pitch selection and his bat speed during the off-season.

Nick Kurtz is in his third mini-slump of his first MLB season, chasing inside breaking balls again.

His seven strikeouts in 12 ab’s is uncharacteristic, and previous slumps have been corrected with just a day off.

It remains to be seen if Kurtz will take a day off with just nine games remaining but at .294 Kurtz is hoping to reach .300 before the year ends.

Athletics Pitching:

A’s starters struggled with pitch counts and early exits but JT Ginn went a full six innings, giving up just two earned runs, and took the lone win for a starter in the finale.

Starters Jeffrey Springs and newcomer Mason Barnett each lasted just four innings but they managed to keep Red Sox bats in check.

Reliever Mitch Spence (3-5) went 3 2/3 in the opener without allowing a run to notch the other A’s victory.

Giving up only six earned runs to Boston, at Fenway Park, the pitching staff dominated the likely playoff-bound Red Sox with a fantastic 1.97 era.

Athletics AA Playoffs:

The Midland Rockhounds swept their Divisional Playoffs Series with the Amarillo Sod Poodles (real name!), to reach the Texas League Championships.

Top 3 prospect SS Leo De Vries batted .625 with a home run and three RBI’s to lead his team.

Upcoming Series:

In their last road series of 2025, the Athletics (72-81) head to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (65-88).

If the A’s can win this series, they will likely be the only non-playoff bound team to have a winning road record.

The Athletics send RHP Luis Severino (6-11, 4.82) to the mound to counter Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (6-14, 4.13).

Severino has been shelled in his last two starts, giving up eight runs in ten innings, while Keller has a decent 3.09 era in

September.

GameTime:

Sept 19, 2025 340pm

PNC Park

Pittsburgh, Pa