Stock Up, Stock Down: Brewers, Cardinals, Shohei Ohtani and more

Another week down in the 2023 MLB season and it was another week with more injuries.

This time the Houston Astros lost Yordan Alvarez for at least four weeks with a strained oblique, while pitcher Lance McCullers, who has not pitched in a game this season after aggravating a tendon in a bullpen session in February, underwent surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon. Alvarez is the bigger loss and Houston will have to find a way to stay within striking distance of the Texas Rangers.

Aside from that, it was business as usual on the field. It’s now time to fire up the latest Stock Up, Stock Down for the last seven days.

Stock Up: Oakland Athletics

Don’t look now, but the hottest team right now in the majors is the Oakland Athletics. Yes, those A’s are on pace for the most MLB losses in a season. They swept a three-game weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers, then returned home to take the first two games of a four-game series with MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays and earning a split.

Over the last week, they have 10 different players drive in runs, led by JJ Bleday’s four. During this stretch, they have won games in different fashions, 2-1 pitching duels, rallying from behind late in games, and outslugging teams.

Luis Medina, JP Sears, and James Kaprielian have had good starts during this stretch, but one thing that has come out of it is that the Kansas City Royals, thanks to a nine-game losing streak, now own the worst record in baseball. Earlier this season, it would have been hard to imagine Oakland passing anyone in the standings, but they have. Good for them and their fans.