A’s Make Roster Moves Ahead of Phillies Series Amid Nine-Game Skid

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Seth Brown (Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics made a flurry of roster moves on Friday following a four-game sweep at home against the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s, now losers of nine straight games, will look to get back on track against the Philadelphia Phillies, who come to Sacramento having won their last seven contests.

A’s roster moves leaving the big league club:

The Athletics optioned RHP Carlos Duran to Triple-A Las Vegas. Duran made his MLB debut just yesterday (Thursday) for the Athletics. Duran, who missed most of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery while with the Dodgers organization, walked three batters and gave up three runs, managing to record only one out in his debut.

The Athletics optioned C Jhonny Pereda to Triple-A Las Vegas. Pereda struggled in 42 plate appearances with the A’s this season, batting only .167 while managing just one extra-base knock.

The Athletics optioned OF JJ Bleday to Triple-A Las Vegas. JJ has struggled with the big league club this year, hitting only .204 for the A’s. He did manage six home runs up until his demotion on Friday.

The Athletics DFA’d OF/1B Seth Brown. Drafted by the A’s in 2015 out of Lewis-Clark State College, Brown made his MLB debut for the A’s in 2019. Brown was the longest-tenured Athletics player on the roster prior to Friday’s move, playing parts of seven seasons with the A’s. His best season came in 2022 when he posted a 1.9 WAR, a .230 average, and clubbed 25 homers. This will most likely be the end of Brown’s tenure with the A’s as he is exposed to waivers and may be claimed by any club.

A’s roster moves joining the big league club:

The Athletics have recalled LHP Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Las Vegas. Lopez will make the start for the A’s on Friday against the Phillies.

The Athletics have recalled INF CJ Alexander from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Athletics have recalled OF Denzel Clarke from Triple-A Las Vegas. Clarke, who is seen as an elite defender, will take over the majority of the work in center field vacated by JJ Bleday. Per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, A’s GM David Forst confirmed the plans for Clarke. Clarke is in the starting lineup for the A’s tonight, batting ninth and playing center field.

The Athletics selected INF/OF Logan Davidson from Triple-A Las Vegas. Davidson, selected in the first round by the A’s in the 2019 draft, plays multiple positions. He will undoubtedly serve in a utility role for the A’s and was hitting .303 with a .879 OPS for the Aviators.

The Athletics selected C Willie MacIver from Triple-A Las Vegas. Willie will serve as the replacement for Jhonny Pereda in backup duties behind Shea Langeliers.

A’s injury roster moves:

Zack Gelof was transferred to the 60-Day IL as he recovers from a fractured hamate bone. A stress reaction in Gelof’s ribs has delayed his return.

The A’s placed INF Gio Urshela on the 10-Day IL with a hamstring injury he suffered yesterday against the Angels.

MLB The Show podcast Michael Duca Fri May 23, 2025: Former Brewer Ruf’s career ending injury over metal at end of tarp; When will Mets Soto snap out of funk?; plus more news

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Former Milwaukee Brewer Darin Ruf hit his knee while chasing a foul pop towards the stands. The tarp had a metal ending that he hit his knee on. Ruf said the injury ended his career on June 2, 2023. (AP News file photo)

MLB The Show podcast Michael Duca Fri May 23, 2025:

#1 Former Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Darin Ruf got hurt by a metal ending from the tarp at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati which he said caused him career ending injuries two years ago. Ruf during the June 2, 2023 game gave chase of a pop up toward the first base stands in foul ground hit his knee on the metal ending of the tarp rolled up by the stands. Ruf had successes with the San Francisco Giants 2021 and 2022 before going to Milwaukee.

#2 Michael, what is wrong with the New York Mets Juan Soto. You remember the one game where he didn’t leave the batters box and watch a fly ball hit the fence and he only got a single out of it. He might eventually get out of this funk but is the pressure of being one of the highest paid players in the number one market something that’s been overwhelming for him?

#3 Since the 1962 New York Mets it took until 2024 for another team to become the worst team in MLB history in the Chicago White Sox. The Sox this season have some competition with the Colorado Rockies who are on a pace to catch and pass the Sox. After a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday the Rockies now have dropped their record to 8-42 and have the worst start of a club in MLB history in the first 50 games. That record was previously held by the 2023 Oakland A’s who were 10-40.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels Taylor Ward belted a grand slam and the Angels took it to the Sacramento A’s on Thursday afternoon with a 10-5 win. For the Angels a seven game win streak for the A’s their ninth consecutive loss. To think the A’s at the beginning of this month were just one game away to get a tie for first place in the AL West but have since sank to dead last place.

#5 After rehabbing from a torn ACL in his left knee Atlanta Brave Ronald Acuna will be returning to the Braves on Friday night. Acuna has been out for almost a year after injuring the knee May 26, 2024. He had surgery on June 6th. Acuna returns to the Braves after playing six games in the minors going 6-15 hitting two home runs. How ready is Acuna for his return?

Join Michael Duca Fridays for the MLB The Show podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro: Panthers rolling go up on Hurricanes 2-0 with 5-0 shutout

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Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk (19) gets the puck past the Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) for a goal in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Raleigh NC on Thu May 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:

#1  The Florida Panthers won a commanding 5-0 game 2 over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh at the Lenovo Center on Thursday night to go up on Carolina 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

# 2 The Panthers got offensive help from Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe who both had three points and Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky saved 17 shots

#3 Further the Panthers got help from Matthew Tkachuk who scored and got an assist, the Panthers Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues were able to get two assists.

#4 The series now moves onto Florida with the Panthers up 2-0. From the face of it the Panthers could make easy work of the Hurricane. With their backs to the wall do you see the Hurricane having a chance to keep this series alive. Game 3 is Saturday.

#5 Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars battle later tonight in game 2 in Dallas. The Stars have a 1-0 lead with game 2 in Dallas. One of the things the Oilers need to avoid is the injury and to go behind the Stars 0-2 to start the series.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Fridays podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ogden gets a jump on Ballers in 13-9 win Thursday

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The Oakland Ballers lost a tough contest against the Ogden Raptors on Thu May 22, 2025 at Raimondi Park in Oakland (Oakland Ballers photo)

Ogden Raptors (2-1) 250 240 000 13 11 2

Oakland Ballers (1-2) 103 004 001 9 14 3

Time: 3:14

Attendance: 3,118

Thursday, May 22, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–On this chilly Thursday evening in May, more suitable to football than to baseball, the Ogden Raptors thrashed the Oakland Ballers by the football score of 13-9. It would have been a close game had they been playing that other sport. But they weren’t, and it wasn’t.

Ironically, the drubbing came as a moral victory for the Oaklanders. They had endured two innings of self-inflicted misery that would have caused a lesser outfit to abandon all hope, but the flawed hometown heroes kept a slim but real hope alive until the penultimate put out.

Carter Mize’s two run shot over the right field fence off starting pitcher Mac Lardner put the Raptors up 2-0 in the first. The Ballers responded by scraping up a run in the bottom of the frame on Tramayne Cobb’s leadoff double, two walks and a throwing error by shortstop Elliot Good on Cam Buffard’s grounder We now had the makings of a tight ball game.

They ended in the top of the second, in which the Raptors made 11 plate appearances, but they didn’t bat around the order; they walked around it. The visitors scored five runs on two hits, both singles, and five bases on balls.

Ogden tagged on two more tallies in the fourth and another four in the fifth, in which the B’s found new ways to self-destruct. Good led off with a single to right. In the next two plays, the Ballers made errors on sacrifice bunts. Edwin de la Cruz reached first on a throwing error by pitcher Brady Eglite, who had mercifully relieved Lardner after he had faced six batters in the second without retiring any of them. Kenny Oyama then reached first on a throwing error and took second on the ensuing action, in which de la Cruz advanced to third and Good scored. De la Cruz then crossed the plate on a passed ball, Oyama taking third. The Raptors picked up two more runs by more conventional methods (a single and a sac fly) before they were done.

From the depths of this despair, with fans deserting Ernie Raimondi Park in droves, the Ballers battled back. Cobb smacked a one out double to right off of Braydon Bonner, who had relieved Matthew Colucci, who in turn had relieved starter Eli Ellliott in the bottom the fifth.

Lou Helmig drove Cobb home with a single, also to right and then reached third on when Davis Drewek got yet another single. He, too, advanced 180 feet on a single to right, this one off the bat of Christian Almanza, driving in Helmig. Bufford’s double to left plated Drewek.

Michael O’Hara followed up with as ground out to first, which brought in Oakland’s fourth and final run of the frame. The B’s still trailed, 13-8, but the worm had turned. They still had a shot at a comeback. They managed to score an unearned run in the ninth, but that was all they could muster.

But the team’s self respect had been restored. They even outhit their guests, 14-11, but with so many gifts of walks and errors, the Raptors really didn’t need many hits. They used five pitchers to subdue the B’s, the win going to Colucci. Manager Aaron Miles and pitching coach Jim Dedrick also sent a quintet to the mound. A trio—Carson Lambert, Conner Sullivan, and Cameron Edmonson—kept Ogeden off the board over the final four frames, two of which were handled by Lambert. The loss went to Lardner, now 0-1 with a gaudy ERA of 63.00.

Colucci was the winning pitcher. There was no save.

The season’s still young; 93 games still remain in it. There’s room for plenty for surprises. Let’s wait until Friday, evening at 6:35pm to see what new ones await us in the fourth game of this six game series.

NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson: Thunder go up 2-0 on Timberwolves

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Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) who was named NBA MVP before game 2 of the Western Conference finals playoffs led the Thunder in scoring with 38 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Thu May 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the NBA Playoffs podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 The Oklahoma City Thunder have done it again with another 118-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom.com Arena on Thursday night in the Western Conference finals. The Thunder takes a 2-0 series lead.

#2 The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 38 points and you can see why he was named the NBA MVP which was announced before game 2 of this playoff series.

#3 NBA Commissioner Adam Silver awarded Gilegous-Alexander the MVP trophy before the game and Gilegous-Alexander went out and scored 12 of 21 field goals and 13 of 15 free throws, eight assists and three steals looks like he earned his MVP and his keep.

#4 The Timberwolves Anthony Edwards was hard at work taking 26 shots to score 32 points. Jaden McDaniels had 22 points, and Nickeil Walker-Alexander scored 17 points.

#5 Game 3 is Saturday and the series goes back to the Target Center at Minnesota. The Timberwolves have their backs to the wall and another loss could very put them out of this series. The Thunder have been in control in the first two games can they put it away in Minnesota?

Michael Roberson does the NBA Playoffs podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Home field advantage just isn’t working as A’s drop 9th straight game to Angels

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Sacramento A’s starter Luis Severino (40) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels line up in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Thu May 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Jeremiah, another tough loss for the Sacramento A’s dropping a four game home series with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon at Sutter Health Park 10-5. Even with home field advantage the A’s just can’t get any traction going.

#2  The Angels Taylor Ward hit a grand slam and the Angels never looked back. Logan O’Hoppe slugged a home run as the Halos poured it on with five runs in the seventh inning.

#3 For the Angels things are going well they have now won seven games in a row and the Los Angeles Dodgers are part of that mix besides the Athletics.

#4 Starter for the A’s Luis Severino looked good at the beginning going six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs it’s like you were saying in your article Severino gave it his all but the bullpen just collapsed.

#5 Up next for the A’s the Philadelphia Phillies come calling. Starting pitcher for the Phillies Zack Wheeler (5-1 ERA 2.67) and A’s manager Mark Kotsay has not announced a starter for Friday night yet at Sutter Health Park with a 7:05pm PDT start.

Jeremiah Salmonson is a Sacramento A’s beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Giants get the home runs but not the win

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman touches home after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Wednesday the Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez got three hits and belted a two run home run. Bobby Witt Jr and Maikel Garcia contributed with two hits and two RBIs.

#2 The Royals came back from their loss on Tuesday night to take the three game series over the San Francisco Giants 8-4 on Wednesday.

#3 Even though the Royals scored three or fewer runs in their last seven games and scored four or less runs in their last 42 of 50 games this is a team that can compete.

#4 You can’t say the Giants did it without home run help. They got home runs from Matt Chapman, Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos. Ramos also hit a two run home run in the top of the ninth inning off Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg that closed the deficit in half 8-4.

#5 The Giants open a three game series in Washington on Friday night at Nationals Park. The Giants will start RHP Landen Roupp (2-3 ERA 4.11) the Nationals will start LHP MacKenzie Gore (2-4 ERA 3.67) first pitch 3:45pm PDT.

Stephen Ruderman filled in for Morris Phillips who does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bullpen Collapse Spoils Severino’s Gem as A’s Drop Ninth Straight 10-5

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JJ Bleday on Thursday in the Angels vs Athletics game (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s got the start they needed from veteran ace Luis Severino on Thursday afternoon. Yet, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, as the A’s dropped their ninth consecutive game—and 13th in their last 16—in a 10-5 matinee loss to the Angels.

Looking to snap what was then an eight-game skid, the A’s had full confidence in Severino, hoping he could turn the page on his home/road splits. Severino did his part, tossing six innings of two-run ball to keep the A’s in it. He finished his outing having allowed seven hits, striking out five, and exiting with a 5-2 lead.

I asked Severino if he changed anything in his routine compared to previous home starts. “I think the main thing was rhythm. Like I said before, there is nothing I can do to change my other routine… The main thing was getting comfortable on the mound and throwing strikes.”

In the throes of a now nine-game losing streak, Mark Kotsay kept it real in his postgame remarks.

“We are in it right now,” Kotsay said following the loss. “The outing we got from Severino is what we needed. This one hurts because, you know, he threw the ball so good today—and for him to walk off the mound in the sixth and turn the ball over to Holman, who’s been great all season, and some missed locations… next thing you know, you are down.”

Grant Holman, who entered the game with a 0.61 ERA to relieve Severino, gave up a grand slam to the Angels’ Taylor Ward, and just like that, the Angels led 6-5. It was an uncharacteristic outing for Holman, who had been stellar all year in high-leverage situations. He recorded just two outs and gave up five runs on four hits, including two home runs—the second being a solo shot by Logan O’Hoppe.

Mitch Spence came in and stopped the bleeding, tossing one and a third hitless innings.

Trouble returned when Carlos Duran came in for his MLB debut. Duran, who missed most of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery while with the Dodgers organization, walked three batters and gave up three runs, managing to record only one out.

Hogan Harris came in to finish off the ninth, throwing two-thirds of an inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout.

The A’s bullpen has been struggling mightily during their 3-13 stretch. Over those 16 games, the relief corps owns a 9.19 ERA.

The offense for the Athletics came early. In the bottom of the first, Brent Rooker launched a two-run shot to left-center field that traveled 440 feet.

Nick Kurtz added to the lead with an RBI sac fly in the third, making it 3-0.

In the fifth, the A’s had starter Tyler Anderson on the ropes. He issued two walks, including one that forced in a run. Hunter Strickland then entered and walked Jhonny Pereda to score another, giving the A’s a 5-2 advantage. That would be all the offense the A’s could muster, despite having opportunities in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

The Athletics’ ninth straight loss drops them to 22-29 on the season. Grant Holman was charged with the loss. Hunter Strickland earned the win, as the Angels improved to 24-25 and extended their win streak to seven games—having swept the Dodgers before arriving in Sacramento.

The A’s will welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to town on Friday for a 7:05 PM PST start at Sutter Health Park. Zach Wheeler (5-1, 2.67 ERA) is slated to start for the Phillies. The A’s have not announced a starter as of this writing.

Note of the day: Tyler Soderstrom showed additional signs of life in the loss. He walked twice and singled. A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the game that he was encouraged by Soderstrom’s approach. “Great session with Tyler… the second day of this series with Darren (Bush, A’s hitting coach) and him. They talked a lot about Tyler expanding and swinging at pitches that he can put in play but not do damage with. I think we saw that quick adjustment, and that shows the maturation… For Tyler, shrinking the zone and you see the success in a short amount of time, that’s pretty good growth right there.”

Ogden rolls over Ballers 12-5; Oakland’s Drewek gets 1st homer of the season

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Oakland Ballers Davis Drewek connects in the bottom of the second inning against the Ogden Raptors in Pioneer League action at Raimondi Park in West Oakland on Wed May 21, 2025 (Oakland Ballers photo)

Ogden Raptors (1-1) 620 020 200 12 14 2

Oakland Ballers (1-1) 020 021 000 5 7 4

Time: 2:55

Attendance: 2,257

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The ball rolled downhill at Ernie Raimondi Park Wednesday night after Tuesday’s heady success against the Ogden Raptors (1-1) as the Oakland Ballers (1-1) took a 12-5 loss to the Raptors. The attendance dropped from a full house of 4,100 fans to a disappointing 2,257.

The Ballers management wasn’t expecting a repeat of opening Tuesday night’s crowd, but they had been predicting a near sell-out. The Ballers used five pitchers, and only Alec Rodríguez and Esai Santos, who tossed the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, emerged unscored upon.

The most egregious hurler was the starter, Zach St. Pierre, who began the 2024 season as a denizen of the bullpen, but was chosen as the Ballers’ second starter of their second season. He lasted two innings and yielded eight runs.

It should be noted in his defence that only one was earned, but that didn’t keep him from being charged with the loss Oakland’s defense was nothing if not porous. Seven of Ogden’s tallies were unearned.

The Raptors took a commanding 6-0 lead in the initial frame and never looked back. They tacked on a pair of runs in each of the second, fifth, and seventh episodes. Left fielder Cole Jordan was their only hitless starter, while right fielder Damian Stone and second baseman True Fontenot had three hit innings.

Leadoff batter Kenneth Oyama enjoyed a two hit performance, as did first baseman Carter Mize, slammed a four bagger to right in the devastating first. The only Baller to clear the fence was third sacker Davis Drewek, who drove in both of Oakland’s runs in their meek attempt at a comeback in the second with a round trip drive to left.

Raptors southpaw starter, Chase Chapman, lasted only four innings on the bump and so was denied credit for the win, which was no injustice. It took him 86 pitches to get through so few innings, and he surrendered four runs, all of them earned in them.

Shane Gustafon, who allowed the Ballers their fifth and final tally, an unearned run that came on a two out infield single to Cliff Bufford, whose misadventures at the hot corner on Tuesday had earned him the role of DH tonight. Nick Cardinal earned the save with three innings of work in which he shut the Ballers down with but a single walk.

We’ll see what Thursday’s, third of this six game series has to offer. Game time again is 6:35, and the starters have yet to be announced.

Nick Kurtz Homers Twice, but A’s Drop Eighth Straight in 10-5 Loss to Angels

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Lawrence Butler on Wednesday afternoon in the Angels vs A’s game at Sutter Health Park (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The A’s continued to reel on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park, falling to the Los Angeles Angels 10-5.

There were bright spots for the A’s, including two towering home runs from Nick Kurtz, who appears to be breaking out of his slump. But once again, the pitching couldn’t support the offense, and the A’s fell behind late.

Manager Mark Kotsay addressed the growing frustration during the A’s current eight-game losing streak and noted the bullpen’s recent struggles.

“I think each of our leverage guys, if you look back over the last two weeks, has had a rough one,” Kotsay said. “These are stretches you go through as a club. You don’t want it to continue, obviously. We had a couple games where we pitched well and didn’t hit. The last couple nights we’ve had 10–12 hits and scored runs, but we haven’t thrown the ball well. So it’s kind of a perfect storm in this eight-game stretch.”

The bullpen combined for four innings of six-hit, four-run baseball—unable to keep the game close. Tyler Ferguson relieved JP Sears in the sixth and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. But things unraveled when Michel Otanez came in. After two solid innings earlier in the series, Otanez couldn’t record an out on Wednesday, giving up two runs on two hits and walking two.

Matt Krook followed and had mixed results, surrendering two runs on three hits over an inning and a third. Anthony Maldonado wrapped things up by striking out both batters he faced.

As for Sears, Kotsay credited the Angels with a solid approach.

“I think the Angels had a great game plan,” Kotsay said. “They waited him out and got the sweeper up in the zone. He lacked a bit of fastball command, and they took advantage of sitting soft and jumping on pitches close to or in the zone. The result was a few home runs.”

Sears gave up four homers over five innings, allowing eight hits and six runs in total. It felt as if it was feast or famine for the Angels, as nearly every swing against Sears seemed to either result in a home run or an out.

Offensively, there were encouraging signs for the A’s—though the team stranded 13 runners, a number that needs to improve.

Lawrence Butler launched a three-run homer in the second inning to give the A’s an early 3-2 lead. But they quickly surrendered the lead and never got it back. Nick Kurtz provided the rest of the offense with solo home runs in the fifth and seventh innings, both pulled to right-center and combining for 866 feet per Statcast.

With the loss, the A’s have dropped eight straight and now sit at 22-28. JP Sears (4-4, 4.00 ERA) took the loss, while Hector Neris (2-1, 12.71 ERA) earned the win.

The A’s will turn to Luis Severino (1-4, 4.22 ERA) on Thursday as they look to halt the skid. Severino will need to overcome his own struggles at home. The Angels will counter with Ty Anderson (2-1, 3.04 ERA). First pitch is set for 12:35 PM PST.