Elephant Rumblings: A’s kick off long homestand with series against Mariners

A’s Coverage:

• Brown: Inside baseball’s hidden rivalry — How the A’s Matt Chapman wages small-ball war with the Mariners’ Dee Gordon... ($)
• Slusser: A’s mailbag — Bullpen travails, slotting in injured pitchers, All-Stars and more...
• Slusser: Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt solidify A’s rotation...
• Ross: James Kaprielian finally making progress after three years of injuries...
• Sanchez: What is each AL West club’s biggest need?
• Petriello: The most improved pitchers of 2019...

Best of AN:

• Iversen: New outfield metrics offer surprising look at Oakland A’s...

MLB News:

• DiComo: Mets infielder Jed Lowrie (hamstring) ‘not close’ to rehab assignment...
• Cotillo: How Dave Dombrowski, Boston Red Sox will approach trade deadline after uneven start...
• Morosi: Here are 3 bubble teams for Trade Deadline...
• Murray: Righty Francisco Rodriguez signs with Acereros de Monclova of Mexican League...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Rosenthal: It’s not baseball, it’s Bludgeon Ball. And the frequency of home runs is nothing short of numbing... ($)
• Sarris: Why standing closer to the plate has worked for Cody Bellinger... ($)
• Edwards: Everyone Should Want Marcus Stroman...
• Lindbergh: Clayton Kershaw Isn’t Washed Yet...
• Simon: Ranking the best defensive outfields in baseball right now... ($)
• Laurila: Joey Gallo Talks Hitting...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1876 — George Hall of the Philadelphia Athletics becomes the first major league player to hit for the cycle. He will also become the first player to be banned, along with others, for throwing a 3 1/2 game lead with 12 games to go in 1877.
• 1969 — Reggie Jackson of the Oakland Athletics collects 10 RBI with two home runs, a double and two singles against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. In the 8th inning, Jackson drives in three runs with a single when he easily could have made second base. Oakland wins, 21 - 7.

Best of Twitter:

• A fun little coincidence...

• More good news from Oakland’s pitching prospects...

• Shohei Ohtani continues to impress...