Oakland Athletics

Mason Miller delivered a sharp performance, securing his fourth save of the season as the Athletics topped the Cardinals 6-3.

Fantasy Impact: Miller threw 15 pitches, allowing no hits and striking out two while walking one in a scoreless inning. This outing continues a strong season for Miller, who now boasts a 2.00 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. His impressive 17.0 K/9 and 4.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio highlight his dominance and reliability in high-leverage situations. Given his consistent performance and ability to shut down opponents, Miller remains a valuable asset in fantasy leagues, particularly for those in need of saves and strikeouts.

Paul Blackburn earned the win Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings as the Athletics topped the Cardinals 6-3.

Fantasy Impact: Despite the win, Blackburn's control issues were apparent, as he issued five free passes, the most he's allowed this season. However, his ability to rack up seven strikeouts and limit the damage to just three runs helped him secure his second win. Looking ahead, fantasy managers should be slightly concerned about the high walk rate in this outing, but Blackburn's overall strong season metrics, including a pristine ERA and solid WHIP, suggest he can be a valuable asset if he maintains control. His strikeout numbers aren't elite, but his efficiency and ability to manage games should keep him relevant in most fantasy formats.

Esteury Ruiz went 1-for-5 in the Athletics' 6-3 win over the Cardinals, delivering a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

Fantasy Impact: Ruiz's performance, highlighted by his impactful swing and speed on the bases, continues to build on his impressive early-season surge. With a batting average holding strong at .357, he's proving to be a valuable asset in fantasy lineups, especially given his ability to contribute across multiple categories.

JP Sears allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: Despite his second straight solid outing, Sears's season statistics suggest a shaky foundation for fantasy managers. With a 4.35 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP through four starts, his low strikeout rate of 3.9 K/9 and high FIP of 5.24 indicate potential struggles ahead. Fantasy managers should be cautious.

Ross Stripling endured another challenging outing, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Fantasy Impact: This performance continues a concerning trend for Stripling, whose season ERA now sits at an inflated 5.32, accompanied by a WHIP of 1.65. His strikeout rate remains low at 6.8 K/9, indicating a lack of dominance on the mound. It's clear that Stripling is struggling to find his form this season. Fantasy managers should be wary of relying on him in their rotations, as his current metrics do not inspire confidence for future outings.

The Athletics placed J.D. Davis on the IL with a groin injury. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Davis suffered a groin injury on Sunday and reportedly was already set to miss a few days. The move allows the team to recall Esteury Ruiz to fill Davis’ roster spot.

Alex Wood allowed four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings Sunday against the Nationals.

Fantasy Impact: Wood added four strikeouts and four walks on the afternoon in a no-decision. He has posted an 8.10 ERA so far this year.

The Oakland A's have placed outfielder Brent Rooker on the 10-day injured list due to a costochondral cartilage injury. (Source: Jessica Kleinschmidt on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The injury is in the rib cage area where the ribs attach to the sternum. After breaking out with 30 homers in the 2023 season, Rooker has hit just .200 to begin the season but has also clubbed a pair of homers alongside a double through his first eight games.

Despite the Oakland Athletics falling short against the Texas Rangers with a 6-2 defeat, Zack Gelof's performance offered a glimmer of hope for fantasy managers.

Fantasy Impact: Gelof, manning second base, managed to connect for a home run, contributing one of the A's two runs on the day. This outing brings his season totals to a somewhat modest .239 batting average with 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 9 runs scored over 12 games.

Shea Langeliers's performance on Tuesday was nothing short of spectacular, propelling the Oakland Athletics to a narrow 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers with a trio of home runs that accounted for all of the team's runs.

Fantasy Impact: In a game where every at-bat could make the difference, Langeliers delivered with unparalleled power, driving in four runs and crossing the plate three times himself. While his strikeout rate remains a concern, his slugging prowess in this game could hint at things to come. Fantasy managers should take note of Langeliers's potential for power surges like this.

In what could be described as a much-needed turnaround, Joe Boyle delivered an impressive performance against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, guiding the Oakland Athletics to a 7-1 victory.

Fantasy Impact: Over 5 innings, Boyle limited the Tigers to just 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6, earning his first win of the season. This outing was a stark contrast to his earlier season struggles, where he posted a bloated 8.22 ERA and a 2.22 WHIP over his first two starts. Despite the rough start to the season, Boyle's latest performance, coupled with an impressive 11.7 K/9 rate, suggests that he has the potential to overcome his early setbacks. His high strikeout rate continues to make him an intriguing fantasy option, especially in leagues that reward strikeouts heavily. However, his high ERA and WHIP are red flags that fantasy managers should not ignore. If Boyle can build on this performance and start to bring down those numbers, he could become a valuable asset. For now, fantasy managers should consider him a high-risk, high-reward option, particularly in deeper leagues or as a streaming candidate against favorable matchups.

In a closely contested battle that saw the Oakland Athletics fall to the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Tuesday, JJ Bleday's performance was a silver lining for fantasy managers.

Fantasy Impact: The outfielder managed to connect for a home run, contributing significantly to the A's offense with two RBIs and scoring once himself. Despite the loss, Bleday's ability to reach base via a walk, alongside his power display, underscores his growing fantasy relevance. Now boasting a .348 batting average with a .429 wOBA through six games, Bleday is making a strong case for increased attention in fantasy circles.

Athletics SP Ken Waldichuk (elbow) is set to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Waldichuk will throw off a mound for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery last October. He is expected to throw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session.

Oakland A's shortstop Darell Hernaiz is in the starting lineup Friday versus the Guardians. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The 22-year-old made his big-league debut in a pinch-hitting appearance on Friday but will get the first start of his career on Friday. He hit .321 with nine homers and 13 stolen bases in 131 games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Oakland A's infielder Abraham Toro is in the starting lineup Friday versus the Guardians. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Toro sat out on Opening Day but will return to take on left-hander Logan Allen on Friday. Acquired in an offseason deal from the Brewers, Toro hit .291 with eight homers and eight steals in 96 games with Triple-A Nashville last season, only getting into nine games with the Brewers, albeit with two homers in that time.

Oakland A's outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown is on the bench Friday versus the Guardians. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Brown was one of many A's to struggle on Thursday, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout, and will take a seat against a lefty in Logan Allen on Friday. The veteran hit .222 with 14 homers and three steals in 112 games a season ago.

Oakland A's first baseman Ryan Noda isn't in the starting lineup Friday versus the Guardians. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Noda had a tough Opening Day Thursday, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. He enjoyed a big rookie season in 2023, hitting .229 with 16 homers, three steals, a 15.6% BB% and a 123 wRC+ across 128 games.

Oakland A's pitcher Sean Newcomb will begin the season on the injured list due to knee irritation. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Newcomb inked a one-year deal with the A's this offseason but will miss the beginning of the season with a knee issue. The left-hander posted a 3.00 ERA across seven outings with the A's in 2023 and posted an identical ERA in four spring outings this season prior to the injury.

Oakland A's outfielder Miguel Andujar has suffered a torn meniscus and will miss a minimum of 4-6 weeks. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The knee injury will require surgery and Andujar will likely miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season. Andujar had been enjoying a big spring, hitting .357 with five home runs and one stolen base across 43 trips to the plate.

Athletics RP Trevor Gott will undergo Tommy John surgery after being diagnosed with a torn UCL. (Source: Martin Gallegos on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The veteran reliever will now miss the entire 2024 season and is set to be a free agent after the season. The 31-year-old will focus on rehabbing his elbow ahead of attempting to join a team next offseason.