Athletics secure 'B-' grade behind solid pitching and road success

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Athletics secure 'B-' grade behind solid pitching and road success originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Last season, the Athletics were a fun team to watch. They had no problem on the offensive side of things, hitting home runs left and right.

It was the pitching staff that set the team back. And with only adding Aaron Civale to the starting staff over the winter, some believed the pitching staff would be the thing to hold them back again this year.

However, it hasn't been that way. The pitching staff has done its part, helping the club get off to a 10-9 record to start the season.

MORE: Blockbuster Athletics trade proposal sees A's land $110 million two-time All-Star ace to create 1-2-3 punch with Jeffrey Springs, Aaron Civale

Athletics secure 'B-' grade behind solid pitching and road success​

Civale has been a great addition to the starting rotation. In three starts, he has a 2-0 record with a 1.72 ERA and 12 strikeouts on 15.2 innings of work.

He's not the only starter who is doing their job. Jeffrey Springs is also off to a hot start, holding together a 3-0 record through four starts. He also has a 1.46 ERA and 20 strikeouts on 24.2 innings pitched.

Take that and the road success the team has seen this year, and Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller gives them a solid grade to start the season.

"Athletics (10-9): B-

The A's got out to a rough start, but five straight road wins–three of them in shutout fashion–over the New York Yankees and New York Mets sure did salvage things in a hurry. Both Jeffrey Springs and Aaron Civale have been awesome on the mound thus far. Can they get the bats to stay awake, though?"

Miller questions the team's ability to keep things going offensively. They have had multiple games where they have failed to really get anything going with the bats, which is saying something for the sluggers they have in the lineup, even with Brent Rooker hitting the IL with an oblique strain.

More MLB news:​

• Angels fans should feel pretty good about their team's early-season grade
• Munetaka Murakami cannot save the White Sox from this 'D-' grade
• Rays proving the critics wrong with an 'A+' grade to start the season
• Brewers linked to 'high-floor' USC lefty in latest mock draft
• Mariners projected to draft 60-grade speed threat from Texas A&M

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