Oakland Athletics greatest weakness exposed in Wild Card Game

The Oakland Athletics are built for the regular season. However, that success does not translate to October.

There is no questioning the success that the Oakland Athletics have had in the regular season over the past couple of years. Despite their ever present payroll limitations, they have managed to win 97 games for two consecutive seasons, finding their way to the Wild Card Game each year. However, the end result was the same each time. The A’s saw their postseason run come to an early end, as they failed to advance beyond the opening match.

In 2018, Oakland attempted to use an opener, giving Liam Hendriks the “start.” He lasted just one inning, allowing two runs on a homer from Aaron Judge. While Hendriks took the loss, the duo of Fernando Rodney and Blake Treinen were the main culprits, allowing four runs between them in the sixth inning to seal the A’s 7-2 loss.

This season was similar. The A’s went with an actual starter in the Wild Card Game this time, handing the ball to Sean Manaea. The soft tossing lefty did strike out five batters in his two plus innings, but he also allowed four runs on three homers as the A’s took a 5-1 loss.

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The fact that Manaea was thrust into action during the Wild Card Game highlighted the biggest flaw with the A’s over the past two seasons. He had just come back from shoulder surgery the previous September, making just five starts. Manaea’s fastball averaged just 90 MPH, and his excellent showing over the final month of the season appeared to be a mirage.

Chances are, this outing would have gone to Frankie Montas, who had appeared to have established himself as a top of the rotation arm. Instead, he was suspended for 80 games, as well as the postseason, for failing a PED test.

While the A’s had a solid rotation even without Manaea or Montas, they do not have the type of stopper that can win a postseason series on his own. The likes of Mike Fiers, Brett Anderson, and Chris Bassitt may be fine in the regular season, but they are middle of the rotation arms at best.

In order for Oakland to take that next step, and advance beyond the Wild Card Game, they need to find a top of the rotation arm. It is possible that Montas continues to develop, or that uber prospects Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk can step in and fill that void. But that is still a lot to ask of a trio of relatively unproven youngsters.

Heading into next season, Oakland only has $42,2 million committed to their roster. That number will increase due to raises in arbitration, but the A’s should still have money to spend. If they are serious about taking that next step forward in the postseason, it may be time to invest in a top of the rotation arm.

While the A’s are not likely to ever spent at the top of the free agent market, there are plenty of second tier options that could make sense. A pitcher like Dallas Keuchel, Jake Odorizzi, or even Cole Hamels could make a difference. The A’s would also have the type of depth they lacked in recent years, with Bassitt slotting into a long relief role, or Puk and/or Luzardo getting their first extended major league action in the bullpen.

The Oakland Athletics have been doomed by a lack of a true top of the rotation arm in the past two seasons. In order to take that next step in 2020, they will need to find one, either with one of their youngsters, or in free agency.