Ok. We are only 16 games into the season. Normally, that is a small sample size to a 162 game schedule in Major League Baseball. Not this year. Due to coronavirus, there are only 60 games due to be played, and the Oakland Athletics have got off to a fantastic start. At 12 wins and four losses, they have the best winning percentage at .750. So why is Oakland first? Here are five reasons why.
1) Outstanding pitching. It is the Athletics who have given up the least number of runs in the American League with 48. Starting pitchers Frankie Montas and Chris Bassitt have been magnificent, as they have an earned run average of 1.57 and 1.00 respectively. Meanwhile, relievers Joakim Soria, Jake Diekman and T.J. McFarland have each pitched in seven games, and all have an earned run average of 0.00 to date. The Athletics as a team also have 100 more strikeouts than walks.
2) Athletics are actually showing speed. This is not Moneyball like. However, Oakland actually has eight stolen bases as a team after 16 games. Second baseman Tony Kemp and left fielder Robbie Grossman have two stolen bases each to lead the Athletics.
3) Timely power from Matt Olson. In 55 at bats, Matt Olson only has a batting average this season of .164. However, of his nine hits, five have been for home runs, which leads the team. Olson also leads the Athletics with 13 runs batted in and 14 walks.
4) Red Hot August. So far in nine August games, Oakland has gone undefeated with a perfect record of 9-0. They have swept the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers,and Houston Astros in August by a combined score of 47-19. Oakland’s most significant win came on August 3, when they pounded the Mariners 11-1.
5) The Astros are weaker. Heading into this season many expected the Houston Astros to contend with the Athletics for first place in the American League West. However, that has not been the case. Houston has severely missed starting pitchers Gerrit Cole (signed as a free agent by the New York Yankees), and Justin Verlander, who has missed the majority of the season with an arm injury. At six wins and nine losses, the Astros are 5.5 games back of the Athletics in the division already.
