A’s in tight wild card race, next games are big
OAKLAND >> After the Bay Bridge Series ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Oakland A’s, the next two series will be crucial in their pursuit of a postseason berth.
The A’s play the Seattle Mariners twice at home before welcoming the New York Yankees for a four-game series over the weekend. A half-game back of the Boston Red Sox for the second wild card spot and 2.5 games back of the Yankees heading into Monday’s action, a winning week could go a long way toward creating some separation in the wild card chase.
The Mariners touched down in Oakland 3.5 games behind the Red Sox. The A’s American League West rivals have won seven of their last 10 games, with two of those losses coming over the weekend in Houston. The Mariners prevented the sweep Sunday by beating the division-leading Astros 6-3 in 11 innings.
The A’s are keeping pace with their fellow contenders, though they’ve been unable to gain much steam since hitting a difficult three-city road trip. A sweep of the Cleveland Indians was followed by a series loss to the last-place Texas Rangers and a gut-wrenching series loss
to the Chicago White Sox that saw ace Chris Bassitt hit in the face with a line drive.
The A’s, though, are still within reach of the American League West’s top spot. The Astros weren’t able to create separation during Oakland’s skid, and remain just 3.5 games ahead. With the division still in mind, the A’s will also have plenty of teams to fend off for one of two wild card spots.
On Aug. 7, the Mariners were behind the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays on the outside looking in, 5.5 games out of a wild card spot. With the Jays faltering, the Mariners have kept pace to catapult themselves back into contention.
Seattle is dealing with a few key injuries, including to reigning Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis and newly acquired closer Diego Castillo. But Lewis, on the 60-day IL with a knee injury, could begin a rehab assignment in the coming days. Castillo underwent an MRI on an ailing right throwing shoulder that revealed no structural damage. Fully healthy and energized, the Mariners could make a strong push for a postseason spot.
YANKEES PLAYING UP TO EXPECTATION >> After a disappointing start to the season, the Yankees have been on a tear since the trade deadline, and even before. The Yankees are 17-4 in the month of August. They were already started to gain steam before the July 30 deadline, putting together a 14-9 month of July that followed an underwhelming April, May and June in which they went 41-39.
With new acquisitions
Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo, the Yankees look to be in a spot to match preseason expectations that had them vying for the American League East. Now, the Tampa Bay Rays hold a 4.5game lead over the Yankees for the AL East crown.
The A’s four games this weekend against the Yankees could dictate much of how the wild card race plays out come September. BOSTON LOSING GROUND >> The Red Sox slipped from a comfortable lead in the AL East to comfortable lead for the first wild card spot to now barely clinging onto the second spot.