With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. We’ll be starting off with the west coast and moving our way to the east. Today, we focus on the American League West:
Oakland Athletics
2018 record: 97-65, 2nd in AL West, 2nd Wild Card
Projected Lineup: Starting Rotation: Key Bullpen Pieces: Key Bench Pieces:
CF Ramon Laureano RH Mike Fiers RH Blake Treinen IN/OF Mark Canha
3B Matt Chapman RH Marco Estrada RH Lou Trivino IN/OF Chad Pinder
1B Matt Olson RH Frankie Montas RH Joakim Soria OF Dustin Fowler
DH Khris Davis LH Brett Anderson RH Yusmeiro Petit
RF Stephen Piscotty TBD
LF Nick Martini
2B Jurickson Profar
SS Marcus Semien
C Josh Phegley
The A’s were, without a doubt, the surprise team of 2018. With a projected win total of 76 games, Oakland went on to win 97 games up from 75 wins in 2017. Now the question remains; can they do it again? Well, they lost Jed Lowrie and Jonathan Lucroy to free agency. While Lucroy’s numbers continue to falter with age, Lowrie showed to be a Renaissance man in his 2018 campaign. However, both are now gone and replaced with Josh Phegley and Jurickson Profar, who was acquired through trade with Texas. Both are expected to slot into the starting C and 2B roles, respectively. Then, we have four guys who are key to another successful postseason run. Stephen Piscotty came home to the team he grew up loving and produced, hitting .267 with 27 home runs. Matt Olson played Gold Glove defense over at first while blasting 29 home runs in 162 games. Khris Davis is a model of consistency and what fans want to see in their DH: power. Three straight seasons of 40+ home runs, 48 in 2018. All he has to do is break away from that .247 average, which he has eerily hit for in each of the last 4 seasons. And finally, we have Matt Chapman, who is quickly becoming one of the best 3B in baseball. We know how incredible his glove is with his 29 defensive runs saved last year, but his bat is beginning to come around. A .278 average, 24 home runs, OPS+ of 136 and WAR of 8.2. If these four can repeat these numbers, I don’t see why the A’s can’t make another October appearance.
Unfortunately, the starting pitching seems to be lacking, at least to start the 2019 season. LH Sean Manaea received season ending shoulder surgery in September that is expected to keep him out for most, if not all, of 2019. RH Jharel Cotton missed all of 2018 after Tommy John surgery so his recovery continues into the season. The A’s did, however, resign Mike Fiers and Brett Anderson and signed Marco Estrada. All three are expected to anchor a rotation along with Frankie Montas who in 11 starts in 2018 pitched to a 3.88 ERA. Don’t be surprised if we see Oakland go the route of the “opener” again for some games in 2019.
The strength of the A’s pitching staff lies within their bullpen, with RH Blake Treinen leading the way. 38 saves, 0.78 ERA and 0.834 WHIP in 80.1 innings makes Treinen one of the best in the game today. Compliment him with guys like Trivino, Soria and Petit, Oakland hopes to prove that 2018 wasn’t a fluke and make the postseason for a second consecutive year.
2019 prediction: 2nd in AL West
