{"id":5432,"date":"2023-05-28T20:13:53","date_gmt":"2023-05-29T03:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=5432"},"modified":"2023-05-28T20:13:53","modified_gmt":"2023-05-29T03:13:53","slug":"athletics-swept-by-astros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2023\/05\/28\/athletics-swept-by-astros\/","title":{"rendered":"Athletics Swept by Astros"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Oakland Athletics<\/a> (10\u201345) were swept this weekend for the third time in a row. They have dropped two series against the Houston Astros<\/a> and a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners<\/a>. This was their 11th loss in a row and their sixth straight series loss. They continue their pace for the worst record in the history of baseball currently held by the 1962 expansion New York Mets<\/a>. The Mets finished the 1962 season with a 40\u2013120 record. The A’s are currently on pace to go 29\u2013133. They look to right the ship and end the losing streak against the Atlanta Braves<\/a> on Monday night.<\/p>\n

Chasing History<\/h4>\n

The A’s are chasing the wrong type of history this year by losing at a record pace. They have officially taken on the motto, “If we’re going to be bad, might as well be the best ever at it”. They are being led there by their pitching staff which has really struggled this season. Their 6.81 team ERA is last in the league with the Kansas City Royals<\/a> in next to last with a 5.26. They lead the league in Walks (256), On-Base Against (2.85), and WHIP (1.65). \u00a0The 1930 Philadelphia Phillies<\/a> have the worst team ERA in the modern era (since 1900) with a 6.71.<\/p>\n

ERA+ is a stat that takes ERA, and measures it against the league average. It is a better way to compare pitchers to each other when looking at the ERA stat. The league average would be a 100 ERA+. When looking at the A’s entire pitching staff, they have three pitchers who are above league average. Richard Lovelady<\/a><\/strong> (176), Zach Jackson<\/a><\/strong> (165), and Sam Long<\/strong><\/a> (117). The starting pitching staff, excluding Mason Miller<\/strong><\/a> who is out indefinitely, doesn’t have one league average pitcher. JP Sears<\/strong><\/a> has the highest ERA+ of any starter at 85.<\/p>\n

Going to an Opener<\/h4>\n
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A\u2019s plan to use an opener more frequently beyond today, with multiple relievers in play to open.<\/p>\n

Kotsay: \u201cWe know where we\u2019re at with wins and losses. We\u2019re gonna make a change to see if we can help these young starters. \u2026 We\u2019re gonna experiment with this right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Mart\u00edn Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) May 25, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n