Second-to-last series of the first half
The A’s enjoyed a much-needed day off yesterday, their final respite from baseball until the All-Star Break next week. The players are surely looking forward to some extended time off after a frustrating first-half that saw the team start strong before falling back into familiar bad habits. They need to run through the finish line and end the first half strong over these final six games. And winning a series against a Braves team that has fallen short of expectations sounds like a good way to get some early momentum for when the break is over.
- Braves W/L record: 39-50 (4th in NL East)
- Run differential: +4
- Team OPS: .698 (22nd of 30)
- Team ERA: 3.77 (12th of 30)
Atlanta was the World Series champions just four years ago. They had made the postseason seven straight seasons entering 2025 but that streak is likely coming to an end after a disappointing first half for the Braves. Atlanta’s front office has reportedly been reluctant to punt on this season yet but have lost eight of their past ten games as they limp into Sacramento. If they haven’t begun identifying trade candidates on their roster and possible prospect targets then that would be a massive surprise.
Atlanta’s core is still intact so don’t expect a full-blown rebuild. They have stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris, Austin Riley and former Athletics Matt Olson and Sean Murphy all locked into long-term deals on the position player side. Designated hitter Marcel Ozuna is the one obvious trade piece they have in their possession and he’s been having a decent year for the Braves and seems likely to move. And not to be overlooked A’s will also be seeing former starting shortstop Nick Allen, who is the Braves starter shortstop and providing his usual glove-first production for Atlanta.
Their starting rotation has been an above-average unit as well, with all five of their top starting options sporting sub-4 ERA’s, though ace Spencer Strider has missed time and now Chris Sale (rib cage) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) have landed on the injured list with serious injuries, joining Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder surgery) and AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John). Not many teams could handle that many injuries to their starting rotation.
Tonight’s contest will be a matchup between left-handed veteran Jeffrey Springs and rookie righty Didier Fuentes. Springs has been on an absolute roll in recent outings, sporting a 2.90 ERA over the month of June, though in his first and so far only start in July he only lasted four innings against the Rays. Overall on the year he’s been much better on the road than at home at Sutter Health Park, with a full run difference in his home/road ERA.
Fuentes on the other hand will be making just his fourth career appearance as a major league pitcher. Likely considered a depth piece entering the season, Atlanta’s #10 ranked prospect has struggled in his first taste of big league action, allowing 12 runs in 12 innings up to this point. The A’s would be wise to take advantage of a struggling rookie starter.
Tomorrow’s second game of the series will pit right-handed a Mitch Spence for the A’s versus Bryce Elder for the Braves. Spence has been a solid addition to the rotation since getting promoted from the bullpen, posting a 3.64 ERA in six starts. He got hit around a bit harder in his most recent outing, allowing four runs and three homers. He’s in no danger of losing his spot but he’ll try to finish the first half strong in his final outing of the half.
Elder, a former top prospect who is now in his fourth big league season, has struggled to the tune of a 5.92 ERA over 14 starts, and especially so over his most recent appearances. He has been slightly better on the road but still a below-average pitched almost any way you slice it this year.
Wrapping up the series on Thursday, the Braves will go with their ace in Spencer Strider. He’s dealt with his recover from UCL surgery about as well as could have hoped, posting a solid 3.93 ERA but a far cry from his peak just a couple years ago. He can still shut down an opposing offense when he’s feeling his entire arsenal, and he’ll likely keep getting better as the year goes on.
The A’s will counter Strider with their own left-hander in JP Sears, who will be making his 19th start of the season. Ideally Sears would like to end his up-and-down first half with a quality outing and build some momentum going into the second half. For the year he has a 4.76 ERA but has pitched better of late, having two scoreless outings in his most recent starts.