Elephant Rumblings: A’s starters continue to struggle at home

MLB news roundup

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

One headline of the A’s offseason was that the front office was more aggressive than they’ve typically been in recent years, making some solid improvements to the roster— and the starting rotation in particular, with the addition of free agents Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs.

Through the first series of 2025 against the Mariners in Seattle, the A’s rotation fulfilled its promise and then some as Severino, Springs, Osvaldo Bido, and JP Sears all achieved results ranging from solid to spectacular, with both aforementioned free agent arrivals pitching six scoreless in their A’s debuts.

Then the A’s headed to their new home in Sacramento and experienced an abrupt reversal of fortunes. Through five games at Sutter Health Park, A’s starters have allowed 13 runs in the first inning alone, and 26 total runs through an equal number of innings pitched. Playing from behind early every game, the A’s never so much as held a lead at any point through their first four home games.

Thankfully, the A’s bats put the hurt on Dylan Cease yesterday with six runs in the first, and finally put an end to the Sacramento Skid.

Looking at the other side of the ledger, we are realizing that the A’s offense is on the cusp of being quite good. The A’s have four hitters in their lineup that are well capable of hitting 30-plus home runs this season: Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Shea Langeliers. JJ Bleday is also a legitimate power threat and primed for his own breakout season. Then there’s Jacob Wilson, beginning to play his part as an elite on-base guy with a bit o’ pop, and in the incubator, Nick Kurtz, who is clearly going to take the league by storm in May, win Rookie of the Year in 2025, World Series MVP in 2026…

Okay, maybe I’m getting a bit carried away. But that kind of firepower can offset pitching problems and change a game’s trajectory in a hurry, and as you can tell, I’m pretty excited about how the A’s lineup is shaping up.

Regardless, the A’s starting pitchers need to find a better approach at Sutter Health Park for the team to be competitive this season. Last night, Springs allowed four runs through the first two innings. But the A’s defense shared the blame for those, and Jeffrey settled in to follow up with four scoreless frames. That’s a start. Let’s see if Bido and the A’s can clinch a home series today.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Win First Game In Sacramento, Beat Padres 10-4
• Soderstrom stands with Judge as MLB HR co-leader after hitting two more
• How will revamped rotation shake out?
• Nick Kurtz Is Clobbering His Way Through Triple-A and Nobody Can Stop Him

MLB News & Interest:

• Former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel dies in Dominican Republic nightclub collapse ($)
• MLB Power Rankings: Braves with a big drop; How about that NL West? ($)
• No Structural Damage In Blake Snell’s Shoulder; Dodgers Hoping For Short-Term Absence
• Twins Sign Richard Lovelady To Minor League Deal
• Padres Place Jackson Merrill On Injured List
• Reynaldo López To Be Shut Down For 12 Weeks
• Víctor Robles Likely To Miss About 12 Weeks
• Orioles Reportedly Offered Four-Year, $180MM Deal To Corbin Burnes
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Ding dong.

Fingers crossed this is as minor as it appeared.

Not bad in the field, either.

Our elite on-base guy is batting .400.

O hai, it’s Nick again. I do not envy that baseball.

Roster moves.