Oakland A’s need Sean Manaea to provide quality start

Despite the Oakland A’s recent run of success, they have not had much production from their rotation. They have received only two quality starts in their first 11 games, and none of their starting pitchers have lasted beyond the sixth inning. This needs to change for the A’s beginning with their game on Thursday.

The A’s may have the right pitcher on the mound. Sean Manaea, who has one of the A’s two quality starts, takes the ball in the first game of their four game set with the Tigers. If anyone in the rotation is going to provide the innings that Oakland needs from a starter, he is likely the best option.

Oakland A’s need Sean Manaea to step up

Manaea’s overall numbers thus far in 2021 are not overly impressive. He has allowed six runs on 12 hits and four walks in his 10.2 innings, striking out eight. However, the vast majority of that damage was done in his first outing of the year when the A’s simply were not in sync.

More from White Cleat Beat

• Zach Logue yet another disappointing Oakland A’s trade return
• Luis Barrera heading to familiar foe in Los Angeles Angels
• Looking back at Ruben Sierra with the Oakland A’s
• San Francisco Giants showing Oakland A’s offseason could be worse
• Lucas Luetge what Oakland A’s need in bullpen

His second start was a much different story. In a rematch against Houston, he allowed just one run on six hits and a walk over six innings, striking out four. That outing kicked off the A’s current four game winning streak as they are looking to once again prove that their slow starts do not mean anything over the course of the year.

He had put together a strong second half of the season in 2020. Over his last seven outings, he posted a 2.77 ERA and a 0.949 WHiP in his 39 innings, striking out 32 batters with just four walks. Even if he is not able to put that type of start together on Thursday, the A’s need him to at least have a strong outing.

This is especially important giving the workload of their relievers. The A’s bullpen has pitched 49.2 innings, the second most of any relief corps heading into Wednesday’s action. Even with the offday, it would be a positive to give Oakland’s relievers as much rest as possible. But that comes down to how Manaea can perform.

The Oakland A’s bullpen has been pushed to the limit at the beginning part of the year. Getting a strong outing from Sean Manaea will help.