Oakland Athletics drop both ends of split squad double header against Brewers

The Athletics dropped both ends of their split squad double header against the Brewers yesterday. The two sides have a cadre of younger players in Las Vegas for a two-game series at Las Vegas Ballpark, showcasing the A's in what they hope to be their future home city. The other half of the split squad was back in Arizona facing off against those same Brewers.

Mitch Spence took the mound for the Athletics in Las Vegas, earning a loss in the 5-4 defeat. He gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 4 innings, notching 4 strikeouts along the way. His stuff looked sharp but the Brewers were able to get the drop on him. He'll look to keep improving and potentially win a rotation spot at some point this summer.

Right hander Dany Jimenez struggled again, allowing 3 runs, 2 of them earned, in his single inning of work. His spring ERA is now up to 4.50. He's expected to be a late-inning option for Mark Kotsay in Oakland this year.

Jimenez outpitched his FIP by over a run and a half in 2023. He's looked sharp at times, with troubling stretches along the way. If he can get some luck on balls in play he can be a solid pitcher, but there's certainly risk of collapse in 2024.

The bats in Las Vegas never quite got going. Miguel Andujar knocked 2 home runs on the day, in the 1st against Carlos Rodriguez and in the 8th against Janson Junk. The 2 homers accounted for all 4 of the Athletics' runs on the day.

Esteury Ruiz had a multi-hit day but other than that, the offense fell flat. The squad remains in Las Vegas for a second matchup against the Brewers today at 1:05 pm PST. JP Sears will take the mound for the Athletics. He'll face off against Brewers' righty Evan McKendry.

Back in Arizona, Ross Stripling made his second appearance of the spring for the A's and it did not go well. Stripling threw 3.2 innings, allowed 6 runs on 5 hits and allowed 2 walks to just 1 strikeout.

The Brewers got to Stripling early and often and the A's righty did not look sharp. He was a late addition to the spring roster after dealing with an injury that kept him out for the first couple weeks.

Stripling is expected to have a job in the rotation on opening day but if he doesn't pull it together, he might get shifted to a bullpen role like he did in 2023. Stripling found success in the Giants bullpen last year but with the lack of experience in Oakland, he'll be relied on to provide innings in 2024.

The Athletics' bats looked better in Arizona than they did in Las Vegas. JJ Bleday had three hits on the day while scoring twice. Shea Langeliers hit his second home run of the spring off Brewers lefty Hoby Milner.

Ryan Noda, Max Schuemann, and Abraham Toro also all had multi-hit days. Despite that, the Brewers held the A's to just 4 runs on the day and the A's lost 7-4.

The other half of the Athletics split squad remains in Arizona and will face the Giants today, with lefty Kyle Muller set to face off against the newly acquired Jordan Hicks. First pitch is at 12:05 pm PST.