MLB news roundup
Welcome to Thursday, Athletics Nation!
The Athletics have had a rough go of it lately. While the starting pitching injuries have piled up so too have the losses. The club had lost nine in a row before returning to the Coliseum, their longest losing streak of 2024 and a streak that sent them to the cellar of the AL West. After a solid start to the season, the A’s were looking more like how many expected them to.
Thankfully that losing streak didn’t hit double digits. Oakland got back in the win column on the first game of the homestand, defeating the Kansas City Royals by a 7-5 final in the first game and snapping that disastrous nine-game losing streak. That contest saw the offense finally break out of their mini funk with 13 total baserunners, including three JJ Bleday doubles. Is Bleday turning into the new Jed Lowrie with all of these doubles?
Then last night saw the Athletics win their second straight game, something we haven’t been able to write down recently. This time it was a much more well-rounded with as the club defeated the Royals 5-1 to make it two straight. While Bleday didn’t collect a hit tonight he still scored two runs thanks to timely hits from his teammates. Add in a homer from Zack Gelof (for the second straight night), a quality outing from righty Luis Medina and a lockdown performance from the bullpen and you got yourselves a two-game winning streak and a series win. All-Star Brent Rooker spoke a bit after last night’s win about this team:
"We know whenever we go through those tough times, we've got the right guys in that clubhouse to come out on the other side."
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 20, 2024
Brent Rooker on the A's resilience after their first series win since May 23 pic.twitter.com/FApjMAwWNK
The club needs to get greedy now. Kansas City came into town in the playoff hunt and many expected them to win the series, perhaps even sweep the A’s. Now the shoe is on the other foot and the club has a chance to get a sweep and play early spoiler for a Royals team that is still determining its course of action for the trade deadline. The team hasn’t had a sweep since late April when they swept the Pittsburgh Pirates so it’s been a while. Getting swept at the hands of the Athletics wouldn’t be a great development for them but would be fun for us. We haven’t had a good fun sweep at the Coliseum in a while. Let’s root for fun, right?
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone!
We should be getting an update at some point today:
No update on Toro tonight, per Kotsay. Will know more tomorrow. https://t.co/rzQwXsbiBn
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) June 20, 2024
Easily the best hitter for the A’s right now:
"He's just a hitter."
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 20, 2024
Mark Kotsay praises Miguel Andujar after his 10th multi-hit game pic.twitter.com/FmY9UpiyEL
Please don’t trade Rooker. He’s helping in more ways than just on-field results:
I sat down with Kyle McCann today (more of the interview tomorrow on the pregame show) and he said Brent Rooker had a meeting with the team following that recent losing streak. Didn’t specify what was said, but mentioned Rooker’s leadership.
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) June 20, 2024
