Elephant Rumblings: First Place, But Plenty to Fix

TL;DR

The Athletics are currently in first place in the American League West with an 18-17 record, but face challenges with underperforming pitchers and hitters. Manager Mark Kotsay's lineup decisions have raised concerns as the team prepares for a crucial road trip.

Key points

Athletics hold an 18-17 record
Team is in first place in the American League West
Pitching staff is underperforming
Manager's lineup decisions are questionable
Upcoming road trip is critical for success

Oakland Athletics

May 2, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins (8) tags out Athletics center fielder Lawrence Butler (4) during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Happy Wednesday A’s Fans. Through 35 games, the Athletics have held their own, with an 18-17 record that has kept them in first place in the American League West for the moment. The team has maintained a slightly above .500 record despite several members of its pitching staff not performing well. For example, right-hander Luis Morales started the team’s third game of the season, but is now at Triple-A figuring out how to succeed against MLB hitters. Additionally, the team’s offense has not reached its full potential. Catcher Shea Langeliers has been the main driving force, yet he needs more help. First baseman Nick Kurtz is reaching base at least once per game, but not doing much damage at the plate. He and Tyler Soderstrom are particularly struggling against left-handers this season. Lastly, designated hitter is still searching for his rhythm after an oblique injury. Then there is Lawrence Butler, who has work to do to fully live up to the team-friendly contract extension he signed a couple of years ago. While Butler is a solid defender, he continues to struggle offensively. He only has 18 hits in his first 100 at-bats of 2026. The few times he does reach base via a hit or a walk, he makes poor base-running decisions. Butler has already been picked off six times this season, more than any other player in the league. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has not helped matters, leaning too heavily on the platoon-matchup strategy for his daily lineup construction. Normally when one of your players wins the American League Player of the Week award, you keep him in the lineup and hope he will keep contributing. That has not been the case for Athletics’ outfielder , who has sat on the bench nearly every game since winning that award. The logical explanation is that the team wanted right-handed hitter starting in his place against opposing teams’ left-handed pitchers. However, it is not like Cortes has a history of futility against southpaws and now may have crashed back down to earth due to not playing daily. If the Athletics want to have a successful road trip through and , Kotsay needs to put the best starting nine on the field, or else the team could be at risk of a second-straight back-breaking May.

Q&A

What is the current record of the Oakland Athletics in 2026?

The Oakland Athletics have an 18-17 record as of May 2, 2026.

Who are the key players struggling for the Athletics this season?

Key players struggling include Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, and Tyler Soderstrom, particularly against left-handed pitchers.

What lineup strategy is causing issues for the Athletics?

Manager Mark Kotsay's reliance on a platoon-matchup strategy has led to players like Carlos Cortes sitting on the bench despite recent success.

What challenges do the Athletics face in their upcoming road trip?

The Athletics need to field their best starting nine to avoid a potentially damaging May during their road trip through Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Elephant Rumblings: First Place, But Plenty to Fix

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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