How Next Athletics Series Will Shape Rest of Season

This series needs to go the Athletics way; there is no other way around it. Right now, the Giants are 31-46 and were just swept by the Marlins. Considering the Giants are expected to be sellers at the deadline, it would be inconceivable for the Athletics to lose this series outright.

The only issue is that this is very possible. The Athletics will send out Aaron Civale in Game 1, and then in Game 3, the A's will utilize Jeffrey Springs. Two pitchers who have struggled badly in their last few starts. But if both pitchers can put together a decent start, the ceiling for this A's team raises significantly.

Angels Series

After splitting a series that, on paper, shouldn’t have been close, the Athletics now need to either take two of three from the Angels or sweep them convincingly. Dropping this series, especially after squandering a two-game lead this past week, could be a breaking point for the A's and may alter the trajectory of their season.

All of a sudden, the Athletics would go from a potent wild-card team to a team missing the playoffs in what has been a wide-open American League. With the Athletics potentially having J.T. Ginn, Jeffrey Springs, and Jack Perkins on the mound for the series, we will need to see improvement across the board.

Dodgers Series

This series, unlike the other two, will serve as the ultimate benchmark for this current Athletics team. Not only are the Athletics projected to have Gage Jump and J.T. Ginn on the mound in games one and two, but they will be facing Shohei Otani and Justin Wrobleski, two pitchers who have been phenomenal this season for the Dodgers.

If the Athletics win this series, the team's stock will skyrocket. Not only could we see the Athletics become very aggressive at the deadline, but it will also place a chip on their shoulder. Something that will be crucial if this team hopes to make some noise in the playoffs, much less make the playoffs in the first place.