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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 7: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics bats during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to another new week A’s fans!
The team had a lackluster weekend as they dropped two of three to the Giants. Add that to the series loss mid-week to the Cardinals and the A’s did not have a great time in their latest homestand in Sacramento.
It’s in the books and behind us now though and the team has packed their bags and flown down south to Anaheim to take on the Angels in the team’s second four-game series of the season. This’ll be the first time these two teams have seen each other all year so it’s a fresh start against one another in that regard. The A’s will come into tonight’s series with a slim one-game lead over both the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners so the team really needs to rack up wins against these Angels.
Los Angeles is, yet again, near the bottom of the league but perhaps the bottom has truly fallen out from under them this year. At 16-31 the Angels are the owners of the worst record in the sport. Their offense, led by a resurgent Mike Trout, aren’t completely punchless but still rank in the bottom third in most offensive categories. Slugger Jorge Soler and shortstop Zack Neto have provided solid production, as has former Yankee Oswaldo Peraza, but they’ve gotten little help from the other spots in the batting order.
On the pitching side for the Angels they’ve been treated to the revelation of starter Jose Soriano, who is far and away the best pitcher on the team. They’ve gotten strong results from top-20 prospect Walbert Ureña as well but none of the starters have adequate ERA’s. They’ve also had their depth severely tested early on as they’ve already had 10 pitchers start a game for them this year. Things aren’t any better in their bullpen as their relief unit ranks 29th in the league in bullpen ERA, just ahead of the Astros.
The way things have been and are headed for the Angels right now, the future is not too bright. There’s not much in the way of reinforcements coming up in their farm system anytime soon, and Trout will be turning 35 in August. Could this be the year the team finally pulls the trigger and sends their franchise icon to a winning situation? That’ll be a fascinating story to watch as the summer trade deadline approaches.
The starting matchups this week are all already set. J.T. Ginn will get us started tonight as he gets the ball for his eighth start and looking to keep his roll going. He’ll be opposed by Ureña, who himself is pitching well and has had three straight solid starts. Another thing to keep an eye on in this game? If first baseman Nick Kurtz can extend his on-base streak to 41 games:
Tuesday will see the lefty vs. lefty matchup this series as Jacob Lopez will take on Reid Detmers. Lopez has had struggles this year but has put together back-to-back quality starts and has lowered his season ERA by nearly a full run. There’s other arms in the system that are waiting for their shot though so Lopez needs to keep it up to keep the competition off his heels. Detmers, who once looked like a building block for the Angels years ago, has shifted back to the rotation after spending last year exclusively as a reliever. The early results have been mixed but he’s still only 26 years old and the Angels have nothing to lose letting him try to rediscover his previous form as a starter.
Right-hander Aaron Civale gets the ball for the A’s on Wednesday as he’ll be making his 10th start for the ballclub. He’s continued to be a steal for the Green & Gold as he’ll bring a 2.70 ERA into his first start of the year against the Angels, which ranks 7th in the American League. That mark also leads the Athletics’ pitching staff, though Ginn’s 3.12 mark isn’t far off. Civale will be going up against Jack Kochanowicz, who has gotten lit up to the tune of 12 runs in 10 innings over his previous two starts entering this one. Advantage: A’s.
The final pitching matchup of the series will pit the staff leaders against one another as Luis Severino goes up against one of the best starters this year in fellow righty Jose Soriano. Sevy was on a four-game roll before stumbling this weekend against the Giants. That was at home in Sacramento though and we all know how much he dislikes Sutter Health Park. Maybe getting back on the road will help him get back in the win column too. It won’t be easy as Soriano has been one of the best pitchers in the league this year. That said, he just endured his first rough start last time out when he surrendered six earned runs to the cross-town Dodgers, boosting his season ERA form 1.66 to 2.41. Still a good mark but doesn’t show how dominant he’s been for the Angels so far. Like Trout expect to hear his name in trade talks come this summer.
Who else thinks that’s too small of odds? Gotta take at least three of four against these guys, but division games are always a different beast. First pitch of the series is at 6:38 tonight. Until then, have a great day everyone.
A’s Coverage:
- A’s Bullpen, Defense Collapse in Series-Deciding Loss to Giants
- How John Fisher betrayed Oakland (again) by finally spending on the Athletics
- A’s Drop Saturday Contest To Giants 6-4
- Kurtz Blasts the A’s to a 5-2 Victory Over the Giants
- 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
- Kurtz shakes off pain, crushes massive grand slam to lift A’s
- 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:
- Mariners call up top prospect Emerson for debut — and he’s here to stay
- Mariners place Brendan Donovan on 10-day IL
- Dodgers give life to injury-riddled starting corps, acquire lefty Lauer
- Blake Snell To Undergo Surgery To Remove Loose Bodies In Elbow
- Astros’ Jose Altuve heading to IL with oblique strain
- Rangers’ Corey Seager (back) remains sidelined, has MRI
- Lucas Giolito tosses 5 strong innings in Padres debut
- AL West Notes: D’Arnaud, Smith, Clarke
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Denzel getting back into action:
Shotaro Morii getting some Single-A action:
Possible Leo De Vries promotion to Triple-A coming? He was a late scratch from the Double-A lineup yesterday:
LINEUP CHANGE
Leo De Vries scratched and replaced by Davis Diaz at 3rd base.
Shane McGuire will now be catching.
Euribiel Angeles will now be in the DH position.
— Midland RockHounds (@RockHounds) May 17, 2026
Shortstop is a very important position, who knew?
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