Athletics series preview: The nomads have some hitting talent

But there have been some growing pains with the Athletics.

The Athletics are once again vagabonds, having departed Oakland. Their new home in Las Vegas is not yet ready for them, so they’ll spend some purgatory in Sacramento. But don’t call them the Sacramento Athletics! This year, they’re just known as the “Athletics”, a team that won’t even embrace their temporary home.

The rebuilding franchise bottomed out with 112 losses in 2023, and improved by 19 games last year. They got off to a surprisingly good 20-16 start this year, but then went through a stretch where they lost 20 of 21 games. They were just swept by the Angels on this roadtrip, and they haven’t won a single road game since May 13.

Athletics (26-44) vs. Kansas City Royals (34-35) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Athletics: 4.27 runs scored/game (15th in MLB), 5.99 runs allowed/game (29th)

Royals: 3.35 runs scored/game (28th), 3.65 runs allowed/game (6th)

The Athletics have the third-youngest lineup in baseball, and have shown a fair amount of pop with the ninth-most home runs. Jacob Wilson has emerged as their superstar shortstop and is a huge favorite for Rookie of the Year. He is right behind Bobby Witt Jr. as the third-most valuable shortstop in baseball, according to fWAR, and his ridiculously low 5.9 percent strikeout rate is the second-lowest in the game behind only Luis Arraez. Former Royals slugger Brent Rooker has been on a tear with four 3+ hit games in his last 20 starts, and he’s hitting .380/.443/.671 with five home runs in that time.

Tyler Soderstrom has played in every game this year and is eighth in the American League in home runs (14) and sixth in RBI (44). Lawrence Butler is fresh off signing a seven-year, $66.5 million contract before the season, and he is tied with Witt for the AL lead in doubles with 22.

Rookie Nick Kurtz - taken two picks ahead of Jac Caglianone in the 2024 draft - is hitting just .184/.226/.327 on the road. JJ Bleday seemed to have a breakout season last year when he hit .243/.324/.437 with 20 home runs, but he regressed badly this year and was briefly demoted at one point. Centerfielder Denzel Clarke was called up and made an amazing catch this week, but has an absurd strikeout rate (54 percent) and walk rate (1.8 percent).

Only five teams have stolen fewer bases than the Athletics, but they have an 83 percent success rate when they do run, third-best in baseball. The Athletics are second-to-last in Defensive Runs Saved at -38 and are dead last in Outs Above Average at -22. Denzel Clarke is already among the leaders in both in his short time in the big leagues, but most other A’s defenders are subpar, particularly Bleday and infielder Max Muncy (not to be confused with Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy).

The Athletics splurged on free agent Luis Severino last winter, signing him to a three-year, $67 million deal. He has a 6.41 ERA in his last seven starts, giving up six runs and two home runs in less than six innings against the Orioles his last time out. He has the fifth-largest ERA underperformance relative to his FIP in baseball, He has the 11th-lowest strikeout rate among qualified starters, and hitters are making contact against him 84.7 percent of the time, fourth-highest in baseball. The Royals are hitting .333/.375/.511 against him in his two career starts at Kauffman Stadium, and Salvy is 4-for-15 with two home runs against him in his career.

The Athletics have not officially named starters for Saturday and Sunday, but rookie Jacob Lopez would be in line to make the Saturday start. He has shuttled between the bullpen and rotation, giving up just one unearned run in four innings in his last start on June 8 against Baltimore. Lopez has a fastball that averages 90.5 mph, and opponents are hitting .316 against his slider.

Jeffrey Springs made just ten starts over the two previous seasons, but has been healthy enough to make 12 starts so far for the A’s. He has given up four runs or more in each of his last four starts. Springs has the seventh-highest flyball rate among all qualified starters. He has a reverse split with lefties faring better against him, hitting .269/.333/.441. His best pitch is a change up that opponents are hitting .184 against with a 42 percent whiff rate.

The Athletics have the worst bullpen ERA in baseball at 6.04 with the worst walk rate at 11.9 percent. Mason Miller has regressed in his ERA, but still leads all relievers with a 41.7 percent strikeout rate. He has converted 13-of-15 save opportunities, but has given up 11 runs and 10 walks in 12 ¹⁄₃ innings since the start of May. TJ McFarland has the third-lowest strikeout rate among relievers over the last two seasons. Sean Newcomb had given up three runs in nine innings with the Athletics after he was purchased from the Red Sox.

The Royals swept the A’s at home last year, and took four of six in the season series. The Royals have been sliding with 19 losses in their last 29 games - the only team worse in the AL over that time is the Athletics. The Royals have an opportunity to right the ship, but the Athletics have enough hitting talent that a series win is not a given.