On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Seemingly every offensive player we even mentioned on the Texas Rangers in our series preview went deep against Osvaldo Bido in Tuesday's opener. The A's starter allowed four home runs in total, after allowing just one in his first four starts combined. This was also his first night game at Sutter Health Park, when the ball has a tendency to fly a little more.
The offensive onslaught by the Rangers bumped Bido's ERA on the year from a crisp 2.61 to 4.85.
Texas scored twice in the first with Josh Smith drawing a walk and then Wyatt Langford singling before Adolis García cranked an RBI double to left to score the game's first run. That was followed up by a Marcus Semien sac-fly, before Bido got Joc Pederson looking to end the frame.
The A's would answer back with a solo homer from Miguel Andujar in the bottom of the second, cutting the deficit to 2-1, but Langford would smack his fifth homer of the season in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Lawrence Butler provided his first home run at Sutter Health Park to again make it a one-run game.
It was in the fifth that the Rangers opened this one up. After Bido worked a scoreless fourth, he gave up a solo homer to Smith to lead off the fifth. Bido would strike out Langford swinging, but Corey Seager and García singled, setting the stage for former Athletic Marcus Semien.
He came into this game batting just .141, and Tuesday was his first game out of the leadoff spot all season in a game that he has started. He responded, swatting a three-run home run to break this one open and putting his team ahead 7-2 at that point.
Jake Burger led off the sixth with a solo homer of his own, number three on the year, but Bido was left in to get one more out before giving way to left-hander T.J. McFarland. Bido's final line: 5.1 innings, eight hits, eight runs, three walks, and two strikeouts.
He just wasn't as crisp in this start, with his three walks being the most he's allowed since his first start in Seattle when he gave up four free passes. All four home runs were in the middle of the plate.
The A's bullpen combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of work, giving up just two hits and three walks while striking out five.
The A's would make the final score a bit closer in the seventh when JJ Bleday singled home Brent Rooker from third. Rooker and Luis Urías would add solo home runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 8-5, but that was as far as the rally would go on Tuesday night. The Athletics dropped game one, 8-5.
Former Ranger José Leclerc got into the game in the seventh, struck out García swinging, and was immediately pulled from the game with a right shoulder injury. According to Martín Gallegos of MLB.com, the injury is more of a strain than soreness. He'll undergo further testing on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
If he were to miss any time, the A's have two right-handed relief options in the minors that are already on the 40-man in Grant Holman and Elvis Alvarado. Holman was with the A's for a bit last season, posting a 4.02 ERA (3.87 FIP) in 15.2 innings of work. Alvarado is a hard-throwing addition to the depth of the club that has posted a 4.50 ERA (3.72 FIP) with Triple-A Las Vegas this season.
Alvarado has yet to make his big-league debut, and Holman has yet to allow a run in the minors this year across 9.1 innings of work. He also held a 0.55 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A last season that led to him being brought up in the first place.
Not only has he not allowed a run this season, but he's also allowed just one hit and one walk, giving him a 0.036 batting average against and a 0.21 WHIP.
Tomorrow, we'll see the debut of No. 1 prospect Nick Kurtz in the green and gold, which will lead to a corresponding move being made on the roster to make room for the first base slugger.
More must-reads:
- Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
- 'Really cool': NASCAR driver weighs in on MLB's Speedway Classic at racetrack
- The 'MLB All-Star Game MVPs' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Blue Jays aren't getting enough from their $500M man
Toronto Blue Jays fans don't have much to complain about. Despite losing 5-4 on Tuesday to the New York Yankees, their team leads the AL East by three games heading into play Wednesday against the Yankees. But not everything is perfect north of the U.S. border. Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays reporter for MLB.com, echoed that sentiment during Tuesday night's loss to New York in a post shared on X. "The #BlueJays need more from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and I don't understand why that's only being whispered instead of said out loud," Matheson wrote. Matheson has been beating this drum recently, and he's spot-on. Guerrero Jr., who signed a 14-year, $500M extension in April, hasn't produced superstar numbers. Through 99 games, Vladdy has a .283 average, 13 HRs and 48 RBI. Per ESPN, the 26-year-old is on pace for 21 HRs and 77 RBI, which would by far his lowest full-season totals in those categories since his rookie season in 2019. Although they have one of MLB's best records, the Blue Jays (59-42) lack pop in the lineup. Toronto ranks 20th in the majors in home runs with 105. If Vladdy finds his power stroke and turn it on in the final months of the regular season, the Blue Jays will go from being a playoff contender to a threat to win the World Series. If he doesn't, the Blue Jays aren't getting their money's worth.
Maple Leafs continue to play moneyball: Three big names in play
With Mitch Marner’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights closing a major chapter in Toronto, GM Brad Treliving made a series of moves to replace his production. He might not be done. Three may be even bolder moves on the horizon. We’ve heard the names Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf before. However, the Maple Leafs are actively fielding and exploring trade scenarios as they look to reshape their roster — and according to Nick Kypreos, a handful of intriguing names are emerging in trade chatter: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, and former Leafs fan-favorite Nazem Kadri. The most surprising name still generating buzz is Rielly. Despite being a longtime cornerstone on Toronto’s blue line, his $7.5 million cap hit and no-move clause complicate matters. Yet with the team needing help up front, and possible interest in offensive defensemen like Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, Rielly could become part of a larger plan if he’s open to waiving. Also surprising is the talk surrounding Carlo. A recent addition to the Leafs’ defense corps, he is already being talked about behind the scenes as a potential trade piece. If he were made available, there is interest around the league, as the 6-foot-6 shutdown defender has a team-friendly cap hit and strong penalty-killing ability. Trading Carlo could get the Leafs a top-six forward. Finally, reports on the availability of Kadri remain conflicting. Some say he’s not available, while others suggest that the Calgary Flames would consider the idea. The former Maple Leaf would be a welcome addition back to Toronto, but there isn’t much of a reason for the Flames to trade him unless the return is outstanding. Kadri reportedly would consider waiving his no-move clause for a reunion. That said, getting a deal done won’t be easy, especially with Montreal also rumored to be on his short list. Whether any of these deals come to pass or are just pure speculation, one thing’s sure: the Maple Leafs aren’t standing still. Treliving is trying to get his roster to score more goals. He seems willing to entertain any idea and play Moneyball with the roster if it will help.
Green Bay Packers: TE Tucker Kraft Tries New Position on Day 1 of Camp – Just for Fun or Smidge of Serious?
The Green Bay Packers started training camp Wednesday, and on at least one rep, the kickoff went to an unexpected returner: tight end Tucker Kraft. Whether or not they plan to seriously evaluate him as an option, it’s a development that caught the eye of reporter Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Green Bay Packers shake it up to kick off camp with Kraft, Melton updates Earlier this afternoon, Scheidman shared his observation to the bewilderment of fans on social media. Until further notice, it seems safest to assume that the guys are just having fun. Kraft lacks a kick returner’s build and sprint speed, but at 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds, he’s been dubbed a “human monster truck” for his ability to absorb contact and break tackles after the catch. Most likely, that’s not a skilll that would translate from Kraft’s capacity as a passcatcher to a receiver of kicks. There’s a reason teams rarely plug tight ends in that role. One notable exception is New Orleans’ do-everything weapon Taysom Hill, who also plays quarterback and frequently runs the ball. He’s also returned 20 kickoffs in his career, but only six since his rookie year in 2018. Last season, the Packers relied on cornerback Keisean Nixon for most kickoff opportunities. Wide receiver Jayden Reed was the main man on punts, returning 14 times for 110 yards. Nixon amassed 576 yards between both return types. Schneidman’s Kraft news comes alongside Bo Melton’s more surprising, now-official position switch from receiver to cornerback. Fans aren’t sure what to think. Most aren’t taking Kraft’s rumble too seriously. At South Dakota State, Kraft returned two kickoffs for 34 yards. He has not run back an NFL kick. The former third-round pick enjoyed a highly successful second season: 50 catches, 707 yards, and seven touchdowns. Seeing Kraft tuck it and truck should be a common sight in 2025, just not, most likely, as a returner.
Steelers Already Facing Big Injury Concerns As Key Offensive Piece Starts Camp On The Sidelines
The Pittsburgh Steelers dealt with a litany of injury problems throughout the 2024 season. The issues began during training camp before the regular season even kicked off, and that is happening again for the Steelers. In 2024, fans saw Roman Wilson and Russell Wilson go down before playing in any preseason games, and now the fan base will have to pay attention to training camp as veteran starting left guard Isaac Seumalo will be on the sidelines. Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media Wednesday afternoon, which was the day that players reported to Latrobe, PA for camp. He told reporters that the starting left guard will be beginning training camp on the Non Football Injury List due to a soft tissue injury that he is currently battling. The significance of the injury to Seumalo is unclear, but going to the NFI list is a lot more promising than landing on Injured Reserve at this stage of the season. The way the NFI list works is that Seumalo still counts against the roster, and he can be elevated at any point. If the injury worsens, or the guard shows no sign of getting better, he can be moved to IR so Pittsburgh can open up a roster spot. The Steelers’ offensive line is being counted on to take a major step forward in the 2025 season, and the loss of Seumalo's play and veteran leadership to begin training camp is not ideal. While he is working on bouncing back from his injury, Tomlin stated that third-year player Spencer Anderson will be stepping in at left guard. Anderson has been a versatile depth player on the offensive line for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons, and while he isn't the best replacement, things could be worse for the Steelers. Soft-tissue injuries vary in terms of how long it takes players to bounce back, so hopefully this injury doesn't keep Seumalo out for too long. Fans shouldn't expect to see him in preseason games even once he does return, due to his status as a valuable veteran and his experience in the league as a whole. There is no reason for concern quite yet, as Seumalo can be elevated at any point, but this is a situation worth paying attention to.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
