Elephant Rumblings: Bido leveling up

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

Osvaldo Bido logged another impressive start yesterday. The 28-year-old righty isn’t pitching deep into games yet, but he’s achieved markedly better results through 50 innings with the A’s in 2024 than he did through 50⅔ with the Pirates in 2023. Bido’s ERA dropped from 5.86 to 3.40 between these two samples, which represent the whole of his MLB career thus far.

Bido has allowed just one run through 17 innings in his last three starts, and had the longest running scoreless streak in the league going when he finally gave one up in the fourth yesterday.

However, there could be some dangers lurking in Bido’s peripherals. His xFIP is essentially unchanged so far compared to last year. It currently sits at a less flattering 4.77, and this suggests that Osvaldo may be enjoying a bit of good luck.

Bido has been a fly ball pitcher since a relatively early point in his time with the Pirates organization. His ground ball rate this year is just 31.5%, and only 3.4% of fly balls hit against him in 2024 have left the yard—roughly a third of what the league typically averages.

If more of those fly balls start finding the stands, and if Bido keeps walking a batter about every other inning as he’s done this season, some significant regression could occur. But as they say: the proof is in the pudding, and so far, so good. Time will tell if Osvaldo Bido can make the adjustments needed to sustain a successful big league career.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics take down the Rays 3-1
• A’s putting themselves in position for a playoff push, albeit in Sacramento ($)
• Ginn impresses in Major League debut
• Much has changed since A’s, Rays filled Coliseum for 2019 wild-card game ($)
• Former A’s Reliever Makes MLB Debut with Colorado
• Oakland Ballers Tie Pioneer League History in Win

MLB News & Interest:

• Ballplayers in Japan prep fight for earlier free agency, and chance to join MLB sooner ($)
• Roundtable: Is Votto a Hall of Famer?
• Seattle Mariners fire Scott Servais, name Dan Wilson manager ($)
• One potential impact callup for each team down the stretch
• Judge steaming toward second 60-homer season
• Dodgers Designate Jason Heyward For Assignment
• How might Pirates handle Skenes down the stretch?
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

New signing alert.

There’s some power behind that shot.

Ballers hit half million mark.

Guess I won’t have to worry about visible lines in the outfield like when the Raiders shared the Coli.