Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

They did it! The A’s took the tiebreaker in Sacramento yesterday against the Orioles to win their first series in over a month, and their first at home since April 27. What’s more, it didn’t require overpowering offensive performances, as one might expect from a team whose pitchers posted a 7.25 ERA over the last 30 days. Nope—the A’s didn’t need more than a respectable five spot of run support in their pair of wins over The Birds.

A’s starters had their ups and downs through the series: neither JP Sears nor Luis Severino had terrific starts, though the good Jacob Lopez showed up to contribute to the A’s start-to-finish dominance on the mound Sunday.

The real difference in this series was a bullpen that went from being an unmitigated disaster to allowing just one run through 12⅓ innings against Baltimore. Sean Newcomb and T.J. McFarland are welcome returns: Newcomb backed Lopez with three full scoreless innings of long relief yesterday while McFarland made good on two late appearances, as did Grant Holman, who seems to be settling in alongside his veteran teammates.

On the back end, star closer Mason Miller continued to distance himself from a very bad patch he went through in May. His five-out save on Friday was critical in maintaining the A’s razor thin lead, and The Reaper put in another scoreless inning on Sunday—shockingly, without a strikeout.

This bullpen resurgence is most welcome indeed, and the latest reinforcements inspire some confidence that the A’s relief corps have been glued back together to reform a more capable unit. Let’s see if this theory holds up on the road against the Angels this week.

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Roster moves.

C Austin Wynns from CIN for $ (not yet assigned), RHP Carlos Duran DFA’d, OF Drew Avans (MIL)/IF CJ Alexander (NYY) claimed off waivers, LHP Brady Basso/1B Nick Kurtz to STK on rehab, 2B Cooper Bowman to LV IL, RHP Yorlin Calderon signs MiLB deal/to MID…https://t.co/joKXkyUAPy

— Bill Moriarity – A’s Farm (@AthleticsFarm) June 8, 2025

Next, watch him take the lead in batting average.

Jacob Wilson now leads MLB in hits with 93. He’s 2-for-3 today and is batting .373–as a rookie.

— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) June 8, 2025

Fun for the whole Rooker family on bobblehead day.

Butler’s adjustments continue to pay dividends.

Lawrence Butler continues to hit. He told me he’s still building off last season’s head adjustment at the plate. To maintain that, he made sure to be a little bit more upright in his stance, which helps him see the ball better.

— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) June 8, 2025