Elephant Rumblings: A’s celebrate first series sweep since April

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

Last week, the A’s started their latest road trip by suffering a three-game sweep to the Angels in Anaheim that included a pair of hard-fought losses. That left them at the tail of a 14-game road skid that thankfully ended over the weekend with a three-game sweep of the Royals in Kansas City to even out the road trip—and give the A’s cause to break out the brooms for the first time since April.

This KC masterpiece came as a result of an A’s offense that did just enough with its considerable arsenal to support outstanding and dramatically improved pitching. Luis Severino, Jacob Lopez, and Jeffrey Springs all turned in quality starts, and the bullpen was nearly perfect with the notable exception of a three-run ninth inning given up by Mason Miller in the first game.

Setting aside that blemish, A’s pitchers allowed just three runs all series. This makes winning easy. Lopez’s start was the most impressive, with nine strikeouts and just one walk and three hits through six scoreless. The effort earned the young lefty his first win as an Athletic.

This was just the A’s second series sweep of the season, and their first since April 17, which marked the completion of a lopsided three-game affair in South Chicago, in which the A’s outscored the White Sox by a total of 23 runs to just four.

From all this you can infer, if it isn’t already top of mind, that the A’s have yet to sweep a series at Sutter Health Park. They have a chance to do so in dramatic fashion this week, as the Astros have come to West Sacramento for a four-game series that begins tonight!

Have a terrific week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Finish Sweep of Royals With 3-2 Victory
• 2025 A’s: “Bad” And “Boring” Are Not The Same Thing
• Two in a row! A’s Beat Royals 4-0
• Athletics Defeat Royals 6-4 in KC
• A’s “Reverse Boycott” Game is Missing From Streaming
• Denzel Clarke’s Defense is Reminiscent of Peak Boston Red Sox Star
• Kotsay’s ‘best friend’ in the clubhouse: His son

MLB News & Interest:

• S.F. Giants trade for Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, send Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks to Boston ($)
• Shohei Ohtani To Make Dodgers Pitching Debut On Monday
• Roki Sasaki No Longer Throwing; No Timetable For Return
• Nezza says her Spanish rendition of U.S. anthem at Dodger Stadium was against team’s wishes ($)
• Wilson Ramos Retires
• Zack Wheeler Plans To Retire After 2027 Season
• Pete Crow-Armstrong is one of baseball’s loudest talents: The quiet work behind the scenes ($)
• Rangers Place Tyler Mahle On 15-Day Injured List, Recall Kumar Rocker
• Nationals To Promote Brady House
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

I LOL’d.

The out-loud laughs keep coming.

May looking to throw cheese.