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May 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16), Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21), and Athletics third baseman Darell Hernaiz (2) celebrate the Athletics victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday Athletics fans!
After several consecutive losing seasons, the A’s entered 2026 with renewed expectations, aiming to finish above .500 and remain in playoff contention late in the season. Through nearly 50 games, the A’s have played like a .500 team, yet they still sit atop an underwhelming American League West in which no team has consistently separated itself from the pack. Even the Seattle Mariners, preseason favorites to win the division, entered play today below .500.
Mark Kotsay’s team has handled adversity better this season, avoiding extended losing streaks like the nine-game skid it suffered last May. The A’s have fluctuated between playing strong, winning baseball and enduring sloppy stretches marked by costly losses, but inconsistency is part of the grind of MLB’s 162-game season.
Currently, the A’s miss Jacob Wilson, who is on the injured list with a left shoulder subluxation and sprain. Wilson was heating up offensively before the injury, but his improved defense at shortstop may have been even more encouraging for the A’s. In the wake of Wilson joining fellow infielder Max Muncy on the injured list, Darell Hernáiz has received everyday playing time at shortstop. While Hernáiz can hold his own defensively, Wilson offers more consistency at the plate.
Like last season, the A’s offense was expected to lead the way this year. At the moment, however, the unit has struggled aside from outfielder Carlos Cortes, catcher Shea Langeliers and first baseman Nick Kurtz. Designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler are all batting around the Mendoza Line, with the latter two left-handed hitters mired in prolonged slumps that kept them out of last night’s starting lineup against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
Kurtz has drawn 44 walks, the second-most in MLB, in large part due to his keen eye and strike-zone awareness, but also because opposing teams would rather avoid him and take their chances with the hitters behind him, including Rooker and Soderstrom. The A’s have also received limited offensive production from their backup catcher, a spot that was previously held by Austin Wynns and is now Jonah Heim’s.
Entering last night’s game, the Athletics ranked near the middle of the pack in runs scored and home runs, despite playing home games at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. They proceeded to tag the woeful Los Angeles Angels’ pitching staff for a season-high 14 runs. That will surely boost the team’s offensive confidence. Time will tell whether last night’s offensive explosion was a breakthrough or an anomaly.
The A’s need daily contributions from their offense to offset any pitching concerns if the team wants to remain competitive this season. Wilson and Muncy will return at some point and Soderstrom and Butler have too much talent to keep playing this poorly offensively. Down on the farm, shortstop Leo De Vries remains an intriguing late-season call-up possibility, while left-handers Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump could provide reinforcements for an Athletics’ pitching staff that has been respectable this year.
A’s Coverage:
- A’s clobber Angels 14-6 in Anaheim
- A’s Suffer Heartbreaker to Open Road Trip
- ’Gut-wrenching’: Ginn takes no-no into ninth only to give up walk-off home run
- Michael Stefanic Elects Free Agency
- A’s Bullpen, Defense Collapse in Series-Deciding Loss to Giants
- How John Fisher betrayed Oakland (again) by finally spending on the Athletics
- Kurtz in rarefied air through 162 career games
- The Giants-A’s rivalry is officially dead
- A’s get lefty reliever Suarez in trade with Mariners
- Bolte Flashes In Athletics’ Win Over Cardinals
- A’s roster moves: Bolte, Stefanic recalled; Wilson to IL; Harris optioned, Nuñez DFA’d
- There’s Forcing Your Way Up And There’s Bolte — Is There A Spot For Him?
- May Roster Shuffle Could Help The A’s — But They’d Have To Want It
- Athletics’ Wei-En Lin Continues Rising The Ranks
- Now that we’ve seen a two-way player, what about a three-way player?
- A Walk In The Park Is Nice…To A Point
- Three Things To Watch For The Athletics In May
MLB News and Interest:
- Where all 30 MLB teams stand and their trade deadline outlook at the quarter mark
- Dodgers’ Glasnow has setback; Snell set for NanoScope procedure
- Cole to make season debut for Yankees Friday vs. MLB-best Rays
- Seager placed on injured list with lower back inflammation
- Shirtless LA Angels fans’ ‘sell the team’ chant rocks stadium as team slides with worst record in baseball
- Twins option former top pick Lewis; Jeffers out with hamate fracture
- Braves catcher Drake Baldwin to IL with oblique injury
- Houston Astros Activate Star Shortstop Jeremy Peña
- Jake Fraley To Undergo Sports Hernia Procedure
- Rangers’ MacKenzie Gore leaves with muscle tightness in back
- Kyle Teel Shut Down With LCL Sprain
- Nationals To Recall Dylan Crews
- 2026 MLB draft rankings: Updated top 150 prospects
- Mets achieve rare extra-inning feat not seen in 43 years
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Here is the Athletics‘ updated minor league transaction log. Should outfielder Denzel Clarke remain at Triple-A after his rehab assignment or return to the big-league club?
Which player do you think has the best nickname in Minor League Baseball?
The Iowa Meat Truck
Tugboat
Big Sugar
Who's got the best nickname in Minor League Baseball? Vote for your favorite in the MiLB Nickname Knockout: https://t.co/J7LiyCOQXQpic.twitter.com/0VSOaB9YjA
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 19, 2026
The American League West has arguably been the weakest division in MLB this season, which makes it even more disappointing that the A’s have been unable to separate themselves from their division rivals.
The A’s offense was at its best with two-outs last night.
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