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Elephant Rumblings: Springs Set To Kick Off Braves Series

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Athletics v Tampa Bay Rays
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Good morning Athletics Nation! Rise and shine!

The team is set to begin their second-to-last series of the first half, preparing to host the Atlanta Braves to West Sacramento for the first time. Sitting at just 37-55, the first three months of the season proved that this team still isn’t quite ready to make a serious push for contention, but the next three months could determine how much longer we’ll all have to wait to see this team fighting for a postseason spot. The Braves find themselves in a similar boat at 39-50 but took a different road to get there. They came into this season with big aspirations but look likely to fall well short of their goals and expectations for this season. Sitting 9.5 games back of the third and final NL Wild Card spot, a sweep at the hands of the A’s could turn them into sure-fire sellers if they aren’t one by now. Embrace the spoiler role, everyone.

The A’s still have six games left before the All-Star break. The Braves are here and that series kicks off at Sutter Health Park tonight at 7:05 with left-hander Jeffrey Springs all set to make his 19th appearance of the year. On the whole Springs has been what the A’s hoped they’d get when they acquired him from the Rays this offseason. The 32-year-old is sporting a 4.07 ERA in his first season with the Athletics, but he’s been much better than that of late. April was a disaster as he allowed 19 runs over just five starts. At that point he was one of the weakest links in the starting rotation and some were questioning how long of a leash the lefty would have with his new team.

It’s a good thing the coaching staff didn’t make any drastic choices after that first month. Since April Springs has been a rock for the A’s. Since the calendar turns to May Springs has posted a 3.27 ERA over 10 starts plus two “bulk” assignments after an opener. He’s only gotten stronger as the season has progressed and there’s no reason to think he can’t keep this up over the second half. To be frank, the expensive left-hander has been one of the best starting pitchers on the team for a while now, along with his teammate that accompanied him in the offseason trade Jacob Lopez.

There is the matter of his innings to consider moving forward. A veteran of eight years in the big leagues, Springs has only ever pitched over 100 innings once, back in 2022 with the Rays when he got all the way up to 135 1⁄3 frames. That was also the best year of his career but it surely helped lead to health problems that plagued him in the two seasons since that breakout. This year he’s already at 97 1⁄3 innings pitched so he’s on track to quickly pass that career-high innings pitched.

The schedule lines up for Springs to take the ball today to start the series, and if the A’s stay on regular turn then Springs would also take the ball for the first-half finale against the Blue Jays. It could behoove the team’s chances of keeping him healthy during the second half if they make tonight’s start the final one of his first half. That’d give him nine full days of rest before returning to start the first game of the second half for the A’s in Cleveland to face the Guardians. Even if they decide to let Springs get the first-half finale, his innings will still be something worth monitoring.

Have a great day everyone!

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