Athletics
· 2026-07-01
The Athletics are looking to bounce back from their loss to the Dodgers on June 30, where they fell 4-9.
They currently stand at 8th in the American League with a 40-45 record, on a L3 streak.
The Athletics need to win to stay close to the Mariners, who are just two games ahead in the A.L West.
They have an opportunity to reach .500, which would be a significant milestone.
The Athletics have elected to utilize Joey Estes as their Game 2 starter, moving Jeffrey Springs' start to Sunday.
Estes had a 2-6 record with a 5.95 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP with the Las Vegas Aviators.
Tyler Soderstrom has been the Athletics' best hitter in the last 15 days, with a .333 batting average and 12 hits.
He also hit five home runs during this period, making him a key player for the team.
The Athletics will need Soderstrom to continue performing well to provide run support.
Jacob Wilson is back in the lineup after missing a chunk of the season, and he will face Kyle Freeland, who has a 1-6 record and a 7.81 ERA.
Wilson needs to be a key contributor for the Athletics, especially with the team needing runs badly.
The Athletics are counting on players like Luis Media and Elvis Alvarado to make an impact from the bullpen.
With the pitching questions, the Athletics will need to go above and beyond to provide run support.
The team's hottest player, Tyler Soderstrom, needs to make a sizable dent to keep the Athletics in good shape.
If Soderstrom is unable to produce, it could lead to offensive inefficiencies across the board.
The Athletics are looking to extend their win streak to four games, but it won't be easy against the Rockies.
They need to be ready to fully utilize their bullpen, especially if things go wrong.
The team's current standing and recent loss make this game even more important.