In The Athletics' May Preview, the Los Angel's Angels were seen as an up and coming team based on their run differential being #2 in MLB up until that point. The Angel's did make a nice run, getting as close as 1.5 games away from the first place A's.
One mighty smack-down sweep later, the Angel's now sit 4.5 games back and are forced to lick their wounds until Mike Trout and his back come back healthy. Before the A's look too far ahead however, the Angel's are still #4 in run differential with ( +.6) runs per game. The Angel's are also going into an easy month on paper while the A's are going into their hardest month on paper so far.
Some A's team stats from the first few months.
- Biggest Lead: 4.5 (now 4.5)
- Most games over .500: 14 (currently 13)
- Longest Winning Streak: 6 (May 7th-May 13th)
- Most runs scored: 13
- There have been TEN games this year the A's scored ten or more runs. 10, 11, 10, 12, 12, 11, 11, 13, 10 and 11. ( in 57 games)
- There were seventeen 10+ run games in 2013, and eleven 10+ games in 2012.
- Times shutout by opponent: 2
- Times opponent shutout: 7
- Walk-off Wins: 4
- Walk-off loses: 2
- Blowouts: 15-2
Games | Home/Away | Team |
Runs Scored / Runs Against / (diff) |
ESPN Power Rankings |
Predictive Rankings |
win % |
3 | @ | N.Y. Yankee's | 4.2----4.4-----( - .2) | 10 | 10 | .537 |
3 | @ | Baltimore Orioles | 4.2----4.4-----( - .2 ) | 14 | 15 | ..500 |
3 | @ | L.A. Angels | 4.8----4.2-----( + .6 ) | 5 | 5 | .545 |
3 | HM | N.Y. Yankee's | . | |||
3 | HM | Texas Rangers | 4.2----4.7-----( - .5 ) | 15 | 13 | .500 |
4 | HM | Boston Red Sox | 4.1----4.3-----( - .2 ) | 17 | 18 | .473 |
2 | @ | N.Y. Mets | 4.0----4.4-----( - .4 ) | 23 | 23 | 473 |
3 | @ | Miami Marlin's | 4.6----4.3-----( + .3) | 13 | 9 | .509 |
2 |
June 1st win vs LAA and a June 30th game @ Detroit |
as of May 31st | Average Rank- | Average Rank- | as of May 31st | |
Games 26 |
11 HM-15 RD | 7 games vs A.L. West | #13 | #13 | .515 |
Teams the A's will play in June currently have a winning percentage of .515, which would be the hardest month yet. The bad news; only two teams on the June schedule have a winning percentage under .500.
On the good side, there is only two teams on their June scheduled that have a positive run differential.
The A's will also play 58% of their June games on the road. Road games have been an A's strength this year as the A's are currently #1 in MLB with a .642 winning percentage in road games.
Lets see some team notes.
New York Yankees: 29-27
5/30/2014: #1 SP C.C. Sabathia (knee) will meet with doctors Friday to determine the next step in his rehab, MLB.com reports. C.C. out for the year?
5/31/2014: #4 SP Michael Pineda (back) has suffered a setback in his upper back and will be shut down indefinitely, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
5//31/2014: 1B Mark Teixeira (wrist) will be out of the lineup both Sunday and Monday, with an evaluation slated for Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
6/1/2014: OF Carlos Beltran (elbow) will spend the next three days at the Yankees' spring training complex and could return to the lineup as early as Thursday, Ken David off of the New York Post reports.
3B Yangervis Solarte- The breakout rookie has contributed nicely in place of A-Rod to the tune of a .835 OPS and 131 wRC+. Here is a detailed look at Solarte: Future star or flash in the pan?
Jacoby Ellsbury has been average so far this year with a .727 OPS, 99 wRC+ and negative defense.
Masahiro Tanaka ( Thursday's projected starter vs Drew Pomeranz) has been every bit as good as advertised. 8-1, 10 K/9, 1.36 W/9, 2.06 era, 2.29 xFip, 2.4 fWAR.
Baltimore Orioles: 28-27
OF Nelson Cruz: x-rays came back negative after Cruz left Sundays game, MLB's Brittany Ghiroli reports. Cruz has been having a great season thus far with career high's in OPS ( 1.056) and wRC+ (185).
5/30/2014: C Michael Wieters (15-Day D.L.) (elbow) threw approximately 25 times Friday, and he said afterward that his arm had some life, Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com reports.
1B Chris Davis has come down to earth from last year. .780 OPS, 113 wRC+, .5 fWAR after hitting 1.040 OPS, 167 wRC+ and 6.8 fWAR in 2013.
2B Jemile Weeks got into three MLB games in late April and otherwise has hit .839 OPS and 142 wRC+ in AAA.
Boston Red Sox: 27-30
C/1B Mike Napoli: (15-Day DL). 6/1/2014: Napoli (finger sprain) will take part in a simulated game Monday, Kevin Thomas of the Portland Press Herald reports.
1B/OF Mike Carp: 6/1/2014: Carp (foot) was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, Maureen Mullen of CSN New England reports.
Shane Victorino OF: (15-Day DL). 5/29/2014: Red Sox manager John Farrell said the team will be a bit more cautious with Victorino's strained hamstring this time around, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. 6/1/2014: Victorino (hamstring) has started running the bases, Maureen Mullen of CSN New England reports.
#3 SP Clay Buchholz: (15-Day DL) 6/1/2014: Buchholz (knee) will throw a simulated game Monday, Maureen Mullen of CSN New England reports.
#5 SP Felix Doubront (15-Day DL) 5/29/2014: Doubront (shoulder) threw long toss from 120 feet Thursday.
Jonny Gomes: Has been average overall but has provided the Sox with a 138 wRC+/ .851 OPS vs LHP this year.
New York Mets: 28-29
The Met's have been very healthy as a team thus far.
SP Bartolo Colon's ERA (4.73) has been creeping down closer to his xFIP (3.60) after giving up just two earned runs in his last 15 innings pitched.
OF Chris Young has a .643 OPS and an 83 wRC+.
Miami Marlins: 29-28
The Marlins have been one of the biggest surprise team's of baseball jumping out to a hot start before losing their best pitcher to T.J. surgery.
The Marlins acquired reliever Bryan Morris from the Pirates for the No. 39 overall draft pick on Sunday.
5/16/2014: #1 SP Jose Fernandez (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Friday, MLB.com reports.
Giancarlo Stanton is having himself a season with a 1.032 OPS, 177 wRC+ and 3.5 fWAR so far.
A.L. West Notes:
Your Oakland A's- 35-22
Pythagorean Win-Loss
Expected Win-Loss record based on the number of runs scored
and allowed by the team:
41-16
Runs Scored: 5.2 ( # 1)
Runs against: 3.2 ( # 1)
Difference: 2.0 ( # 1)
#7 starter Josh Lindblom is currently on the 7 day disabled list (undisclosed) after giving up 7 runs in 4.1 innings on 5/30. Josh has been highly ineffective thus far with a 6.88 ERA, and 5.21 FIP in 52 AAA innings this year.
RP Ryan Cook (forearm) will likely be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area reports.
RP Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) will a simulated game in Sacramento on Thursday (5/29) and believes that he could go on a rehab assignment soon thereafter, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports.
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L.A. Angles- 30-26 Runs Scored (#4) Runs against: (#15) Difference (#4)
The Angles have been relatively very healthy.
6/1/2014: OF Josh Hamilton (thumb) will be activated from the DL on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Hamilton had an 261 wRC+ in eight April games to start the year after having a disappointing 104 wRC+ season in 2013.
OF/2B Grant Green. 21 Games .850 OPS, 142 wRC+, .404 BABIP
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Seattle Mariners- 29-28 Runs Scored (#17) Runs against: (#8) Difference (#12)
5/22/2014: 1B/OF/DH Corey Hart (hamstring) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Monday, and he expects to resume physicals activities in approximately one week, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports.
5/31/2014: SP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) will take the mound at Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News-Tribune
5/27/2014: SP James Paxton has inflammation in his left shoulder and will be shut down until it clears up, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.
Texas Rangers- 29-28 Runs Scored ( #13 ) Runs against: ( #27 ) Difference ( #23 )
# 2 SP Matt Harrison- 5/16/2014: Harrison (back) made it clear Friday that even if he has to have spinal surgery, he plans to try to pitch again, Fox Sports Southwest's Anthony Andro reports.
# 3 SP Derrick Holland- 5/31/2014: Holland (knee) threw a 70-pitch bullpen session Friday and only needs to improve his performance in agility drills before he's cleared for a rehab assignment, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
5/22/2014: 2B Jurickson Profar has re-injured his shoulder and will be shut down, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
5/27/2014: 1B Prince Fielder underwent successful surgery on his neck Monday, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reports. Apparently, Texas never had Fielder take a physical.
5/31/2014: SP Tanner Scheppers (elbow) allowed four runs on four hits (including two homers) in his first rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Round Rock.
Michael Choice: OPS .595, 62 wRC+.
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Houston Astro's- 24-34 Runs Scored (#27) Runs against: (#18) Difference (#29)
Break up the Astro's. On the back's of of Jose Altuve, George Springer, Dallas Keuchel, and Astro's pitching overall, the Astro's went 15-14 in May. They also just had a seven game winning streak (4 games giving up 1 or less runs) snapped on Saturday.
They are no longer the worst team in the A.L. (Tampa Bay Rays) and also are better than the Cubs and the Diamondbacks in the N.L.
Chris Carter. Just like last year, after a horribly slow start, is starting to come around. 690 OPS, 92 wRC+.
Brad Peacock. Starting again and doing O.K. 4.76 ERA / 4.12 xFIP on the back of his last two starts.
Max Stassi. .715 OPS, 81 wRC+ in AAA.
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Best Oakland Starts after 57 games:
1988.......39-18
1990.................38-19
1971.................38-19
1972................ 38-19
1973................ 38-19
1989.......................... 37-20
2014..........................35-22
1991...................................35-22
1981...................................35-22
All Time:
1931-..........43-14
Scott Parker-OmahaHi