The Oakland Athletics come to Tropicana Field having seen their 13-game winning streak end Sunday at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles. They’ll want to start a new win streak tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, who have lost three of their last four. For this four-game series, we have four aspects you’ll want to watch for from the Oakland A’s
Matt Olson Has Been Incredible For Oakland
Few people around Major Leagie baseball have had a bigger rebound in 2021 than Athletics first baseman Matt Olson. In 2020, despite hitting 14 home runs and driving in 42, the now-27 year old hit a paltry .195 and struck out 77 times, fifth-most in all of Major League Baseball. But that Matt Olson disappeared with the 60-game spring schedule, and even with an 0 for 4 afternoon Sunday that saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, he’s hitting ,319 with an OPS of 1.030 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 22 games this year.
“He’s off to a good start,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said over the weekend. “He had a good spring, he made some adjustments, he’s just been really, really consistent for us, and it doesn’t surprise me.”
A’s Have Been Clutch Late At The Plate
One of the biggest aspects of Oakland’s 13-game winning streak has been how the team has performed late in games. Athletics hitters are hitting .286/.376/.545 in games that are late and close (defined by Baseball-Reference.com as games in the seventh inning or later in which the team is either tied, ahead by one, or behind with the tying run at least on deck). They are led (naturally) by Olson (.571/.685/1.286), but Oakland has also had big performances this year by Matt Chapman (.500/.455/1.125) and Jed Lowrie (.273/.333/.545).
Oakland’s Pitching Staff Have All Pitched In
Oakland’s success on the pitching side since their 1-7 start has been based on everyone contributing. The starting rotation has seen Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, and Cole Irvin all dominate over the last two weeks
Bassitt: 3 GS, 2-0 record, 3.18 ERA, 10.6 K/9, 1.353 WHIP
Manaea: 2 GS, 2-0 record, 1.38 ERA, 9.7 K/9, 0.923 WHIP
Irvin: 2 GS, 2-0 record, 0.79 ERA, 9.5 K/9, 1.147 WHIP
They Don’t Blow Leads Late
And when the Oakland starters turn the game over to the bullpen, they are able to keep the advantage every time. They are one of just two teams that have yet to blow a save opportunity (the Yankees are the other). They may only have four saves converted (Lou Trivino and Jake Diekman each have a pair), but on their way to those 13 straight victories, other pitchers like Yusmeiro Petit in the above video have also stepped up and stopped opponents from taking advantage of their opportunities.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
