The Oakland Athletics Are Quietly Becoming A Possible Postseason Contender

The Oakland Athletics made it to the postseason as a Wild Card team in 2014, when they were 88-74, finishing second in the American League West. Oakland lost to eventual A.L. champ Kansas City in the Wild Card game. Since then, it’s been hard times baseball wise in the East Bay as the Athletics have finished last in the A.L West for three straight seasons.

There is hope again in Oakland. The Athletics beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 in Oakland on Independence Day, the club’s eighth win in its last 10 games. Stephen Piscotty had three doubles and drove in three runs for the Athletics.

Oakland improved to 48-39 on the season, 8 1/2 games behind division leader Houston, and 7 games behind second place Seattle in the surprisingly strong A.L. West. We have about half the season to go, but it’s a lock that either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox will be one Wild Card team (with the other winning the A.L. East). It’s unlikely another playoff team will emerge from the East, and the Cleveland Indians have a comfortable lead in the Central, with no other team from that division anywhere near .500. The Astros will probably emerge as the winner in the West as we see it, but Seattle is right there if they falter and is a good possibility for the postseason as either the other Wild Card or the West winner with the Astros as a Wild Card.

But Oakland is still close enough to edge its way into the postseason. The Athletics have 10 games left with Houston and seven with Seattle, including what could be an important three game set with the Mariners in late September in Oakland. Seattle also has 13 games left with the Astros. All of this could narrow the gaps between these three teams.

The Athletics have some pop in the lineup, led by 34 year old second baseman Jed Lowrie (14 homers, 59 RBIs, .291 through July 4th), Khris Davis ( 20 homers, 57 RBIs) and Matt Olson (18 and 44). Oakland will probably need to pick up some starting pitching for down the stretch if it appears a playoff run is going to happen (the non-waiver trade deadline is July 31st). Sean Manaea (8-6. with a 3.33 ERA) and Daniel Mengden (6-6, 4.47 but currently on the disabled list) have been the best starters but it’s pretty thin after that. The bullpen has been very good, led by closer Blake Treinen (4-1, 22 saves, 0.84 ERA) and set up man Lou Trivino (7-1, 1.49 ERA). It’s still a long shot at this point, but a playoff berth is not out of the question, and the club will at least be playing meaningful baseball in the second half of the season for the first time in a few years.