Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn pitches against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Tue Jun 27, 2023. Blackburn is slated to start against the Minnesota Twins on Fri Jun 14, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s begin the second half of the 2023 season by hosting the Minnesota Twins for three games starting Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s find themselves with the worst record in all of baseball. They have won 25 games and lost 67.

The team could break the 1962 New York Mets’ record of 120 losses in a season. The A’s have the lowest team batting average in all of baseball. They are 30th in runs scores, 28th in on-base percentage, 30th in slugging, 30th in runs batted in, 30th in hits, and 30th in OPS.

The pitching staff has the highest ERA (6.04) in baseball. The WHIP (walks, hits divided by innings pitched) is 1.56, 30th in baseball. The A’s have committed 92 errors, the most in baseball. They are 28th in fielding. A’s manager Mark Kotsay sends his players out every night, and the players do their best, but the A’s may have to bring up players from the minor leagues and see if they can help the team improve.

Oakland will start a ten-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins Friday night. The Boston Red Sox will follow for three games, and the Houston Astros will play four to conclude the homestand.

The Twins, currently in second place in the AL Central Divison, are 45-46 and 1/2 game behind the Cleveland Guardians. Twins ‘manager Rocco Baldelli will send Kenta Maeda (2-5, 5.18 ERA) to the hill Friday night. The A’s will counter with Paul Blackburn (1-1. 4.86. The Twins’ Pablo Lopez will pitch on Saturday, and Joe Ryan will go on Sunday. The A’s have yet to announce their starters for those two games.

The key players for the Twins are shortstop Carlos Correa, third baseman Donovan Solano, Left Felder Joey Gallo, right fielder Max Kepler, and DH Byron Buxton. Unfortunately for the Twins, Correa, Gallo, Kepler, and Buxton are not having a great season.

After failing to get a long-term contract, Correa, with the Twins, is hitting .225 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs. Gallo is hitting a meager .186. Gallo has blasted 15 dingers and knocked in 28. Kepler is at 2.07 and has 12 home runs and 30 RBIs. Buxton’s average is .208. He is hitting .208 with 15 big flies and 34 RBIs.

Other players to watch are:

• First baseman Alex Kiriloff.
• Catcher Christian Vasquez.
• Second baseman Edouard Julien.
• Kyle Farmer.

Closer Jhoan Duran has 12 saves so far this year. Griffin Jax is the setup guy. Other relievers include Jovani Moran, Jorge Lopez, Emilio Pagan, Cole Sands, Jordan, Balazovic, and Oliver Ortega. 

The A’s are rested and hope to take two out three from The Twins. The A’s then face the Red Sox for three. Last week the Red Sox swept the A’s at Fenway Park. The Astros have owned the A’s for the last several years. The A’s will have their hands full trying to get wins over the Astros.

The A’s would love to play spoilers and upset the apple carts of the three teams coming to the Coliseum. The A’s have a team full of hungry players that would love to show everyone they can be Major League players. It will be interesting to see if the A’s can get their act together and make strides in becoming a better team.