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Oakland A’s tightening Wild Card race with recent success

By Matthew Cataruzolo

Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson (28) celebrates with center fielder Starling Marte (2) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2021; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson (28) celebrates with center fielder Starling Marte (2) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The second American League wild card race has tightened up over the past few days. With recent success by the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners, there are now four teams within three games of the second wild card spot.

The A’s have rebounded from four straight losses against the Blue Jays and White Sox last week. The winners of three straight before a two game slide to end the weekend, they now sit just three games back of a playoff spot.

Oakland A’s starting to show signs of turning around

Behind strong pitching performances from Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea on Wednesday and Thursday, the A’s held a dangerous White Sox lineup to just two runs in the last two games of the series.

With Oakland getting hot at the right time, they could look to take advantage in the midst of a crucial postseason push. The New York Yankees, who have lost eight out of their last nine games, have fallen out of the second Wild Card spot, with the decimated Red Sox holding that spot.

Oakland is finding success with a familiar formula that has helped them all season. One major change that could help them with this push has been the addition of Starling Marte, whom the A’s acquired at the trade deadline in late July.

Marte has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball since the trade deadline. Since being acquired by Oakland on July 29th, Marte leads all Major League hitters with 54 hits.

Along with his bat, Marte has continued to put his base running skills on display, and shown how he is always a threat when he reaches.

He sits fifth in the AL in stolen bases, and is also still tied for fourth in the NL in that category. No player has ever finished in the top ten in stolen bases in both leagues. Per @EliasSports.

Marte is not the lone impact player that did not start their season in green and gold. Andrew Chafin, Josh Harrison, and Yan Gomes have all made their presence felt since being acquired.

Even without star pitcher Chris Bassitt, the A’s have the necessary tools to make another deep playoff run.

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The pitching staff needs to keep putting up solid performances, and the lineup needs to keep pushing the formula that has brought them success all season. Now is the right time to turn up the heat for Oakland.