SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Luis Morales #19 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning A’s fans!
Entering the season, the Athletics hoped to take the next step toward division and playoff contention. The team got off to a promising start, spending a couple of weeks atop the American League West. However, the Green and Gold could never break free from a .500 record. That proved to be the high point of the season, as everything has gone downhill since. From the middle of June, the club has nosedived to the bottom of the league, seemingly unable to escape a nightmare of its own making. A horrid pitching staff, coupled with injuries to several of the A’s key position players, has doomed the Green and Gold to another frustrating and embarrassing campaign. In the modern era, the worst run differential belongs to the 2025 Colorado Rockies, who finished at −424. It would not be surprising if the 47-74 A’s came close to that mark—or even their own franchise record of -339, set by the 2023 club. Entering this weekend’s series against the Texas Rangers, the A’s have an MLB-worst -180 run differential. Outfielder Carlos Cortes has pitched eight times this season, a testament to how often the A’s have found themselves down double-digit runs. Half of the team’s bullpen consists of guys claimed off other teams’ waiver wires, which helps explain why the group has posted the worst ERA in the majors. Right-hander Luis Severino signed the largest free-agent contract in A’s history two winters ago, a decision that has turned into a bust. He spent last season complaining about his working conditions. This year, Severino has barely been able to work, as he has been sidelined since late May with a shoulder injury and shows no signs of returning anytime soon. Speaking of right-handers with electric stuff, the team has also failed to unlock Luis Morales’ potential. The Cuban native showed his immense ability in his MLB debut last year but has struggled to replicate that success this season, both in the majors and at Triple-A. The problems go beyond the players on the field. The Tampa Bay Rays have a lower payroll than the A’s, yet have the best record in the sport. While the A’s have fallen behind in the analytics and baseball development stuff because of owner John Fisher’s penny-pinching ways, the Rays have continued to invest in those areas to compete with bigger-market clubs. That is why the club must not only hire the right general manager this offseason but also give that person the resources to bolster this roster by any means necessary. Hopefully, the two sides will figure out a new CBA deal in time to have a full 2027 baseball season. The Athletics need to show signs of progress next year. After everything the remaining A’s fans have endured, they deserve to cheer for a winning, playoff-contending team before this Sacramento era ends.
A’s Coverage:
The A’s expected to be better than this by now – here are 3 ways to fix them A’s Swept Again in 8-4 Series Finale Loss Athletics Outright Jonathan Ornelas Perkins confident he can be the pitcher he wants to be in season’s final weeks Pair of Waiver Claims Could Become Key Pieces of A’s Bullpen A’s Blown Out By Rays 12-4 Wilson’s errorless streak survives a scare after further review Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House” Almost Everything Has Gone Wrong for the Athletics Feinstein discusses new role as A’s interim GM Sage-burning A’s cope with departure of GM as spiraling season continues Mason Edwards Headlines Athletics’ Pitching Play In 2026 Draft Late Comeback Helps A’s Beat Red Sox 4-3 Athletics Claim Taylor Rashi A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline A’s Top Prospect Jamie Arnold Sets Career High in One of His Best Double-A Starts A’s First-Round Pick Drew Burress Already Showing Prodigious Power in Single-A Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season Signs Of Hope And Signs Of Hopeless Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko says feeling in his legs returning Cuban’s investment group purchases minority stake in Athletics Chan Ho Park joins A’s group; 1st Korean to buy stake in MLB club
MLB News and Interest:
NEW Top 100 and Top 30 Prospects lists are here! Everything to know about tonight’s MLB at Field of Dreams Game on Netflix Benches clear, Martin ejected after hitting Stewart in the helmet with a pitch Buster Posey’s Giants legacy is on the line as adulation is shifting to anger
Reds’ Greene could miss 2027 season after Tommy John surgery Paul Skenes exits after 65 pitches amid latest velocity drop MLB Farm System Midseason Talent Rankings For August 2026 Tigers Place Riley Greene On Injured List Blue Jays claim Paul Sewald after veteran DFA’d by Diamondbacks Freeman smiles through ‘total body soreness’ after scary tumble into opposing dugout Alex Bregman’s first 3-homer game helps Cubs rout Nationals Yandy Díaz Reaches Vesting Option Threshold Rays, Jorge Mateo Agree To Major League Deal Today in Baseball History
Best of X: A’s minor-league left-handed pitcher Corey Braun and outfielder Breyson Guedez are two players standing out at the lower levels of the A’s farm system.
A’s minor-league LHP Corey Braun has pitched 6 no-hit frames with 10 Ks for the Ports. Fastball sits low-90s. Great command. Deserves promotion to Lansing. 2025 8th round pick out of USF. Since June 9 starts, 40 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP 11 walks, 36 K pic.twitter.com/nARbGprBmk — BK (@athleticBsK) August 13, 2026
There is a ton of similarities to Rafael Devers in his swing and setup https://t.co/jko4YIDRGD — Straight A’s (@StraightAs123) August 13, 2026
This season has taken an unfortunate but predictable turn for the worse. Hopefully the A’s can turn things around and start winning more games during the final stretch.
I truly think that if you can sit through this 2026 A’s season, then you can sit through any season. The way that they have lost so many games in truly heartbreaking fashion, the very predictable pitching disaster outings, especially when the bullpen comes in. Countless… — Athletics Rants (@AthleticsRants) August 12, 2026
What a special scene. Imagine the Athletics playing in a showcase game like this one year.
Phillies and Twins emerge from the corn field for the Field of Dreams Game pic.twitter.com/StGF6OCbZI — Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 13, 2026