Athletics

Started @ Boston Red Sox (2W-7L, 6.72 ERA)

The Athletics placed Springs on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Aug. 1, with right-hip discomfort. Earlier imaging found no structural or muscular damage, but the club chose the IL after the hip tightened enough to end his July 26 start in the second inning.

The Athletics' 23-year-old Max Muncy is back because Nick Kurtz's thumb sent him to the IL again. Muncy's .708 MLB OPS is modest, but his hard-contact foundation and Triple-A success keep the upside alive. Stash in 14-team and AL-only leagues while we learn whether he starts most days at third base or DH; standard-league managers can watch the lineup card.

Back on the IL, retroactive to Aug. 1, with a strained right thumb after a 1-for-18, 11-strikeout return from the earlier thumb capsule sprain. Grip-strength limitations and the repeat nature of the injury create real rest-of-season risk until a treatment plan is announced.

Season-ending torn right meniscus confirmed Monday. Langeliers was having a breakout All-Star season — 23 HR, elite defensive value — before going down on the basepaths. Surgery performed July 28. Kyle McCann takes over the primary catcher role for Oakland's remaining games.

Kurtz was placed on the 10-day IL on July 11 with a right thumb capsule sprain. He has cleared a hitting progression and fielded grounders, with manager Mark Kotsay noting a possible return for the upcoming weekend series. The 10-day minimum window has passed, so activation could come any day. No setbacks reported through the ramp-up.

Kurtz was placed on the IL retroactive to July 10 with a right thumb capsule strain. As of July 22, he has not resumed any baseball activities, and his return timeline remains unspecified. The injury caused him to miss the All-Star Game as the starting AL first baseman. Oakland has also lost Brent Rooker to a season-ending knee surgery and Zack Gelof to a knee laceration — the A's infield depth is severely depleted.

Started @ ARI (0W-0L, N/A ERA)

The former LSU star made his MLB debut Friday and is now in Oakland's everyday lineup while Nick Kurtz recovers. His Triple-A numbers (.303/.345/.489 in 55 games) translate to a legitimate power bat, and his splits against left-handers (.376/.438/.576) are outright dangerous. The A's are on a 10-game losing streak — White will get every at-bat. Stash in all 14-team leagues, and in 12-team formats if you have a bench slot open. The upside is a multi-year contributor; the cost is one speculative bench spot.

Right thumb capsule sprain retroactive to July 10. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Kurtz had been playing through the thumb 'more than a few days,' explaining a .145 average over his final 15 games. Despite the slump, he finished the first half .266/.405/.497 with 20 HR, 66 RBI, and 7 SB. Eligible July 20 but a late-July return is more realistic given thumb injury patterns.

Right thumb capsule sprain, IL placement retroactive to July 10. The Athletics said they'd have a better return timeline once the second half begins — check for an update today. He'd gone hitless in his final 20 at-bats before the IL stint, suggesting the thumb had been affecting him longer than disclosed.

Right thumb capsule sprain, IL placement retroactive to July 10. Kurtz had gone hitless in his final 20 at-bats before the injury, so the thumb had been affecting him longer than the team let on. Multi-week absence expected; misses All-Star Game.

Has edged out Elvis Alvarado as the A's primary closer option, but Oakland has named no one officially. Harris and Alvarado continue splitting high-leverage work. Neither is safe in weekly formats. Monitor post-break for any sign of consolidation.

The A's show no urgency to name a closer — Alvarado and Hogan Harris continue splitting save chances with no hierarchy. Organizational ambiguity makes neither safe in standard formats. Monitor for any sign of consolidation.

Right thumb capsule sprain suffered over multiple games — he had been playing through it before exiting Wednesday's game vs. Detroit and confirming the IL placement. IL retroactive to July 10; return target is late July, though a thumb capsule can linger. .266/.400+, 20 HR, 66 RBI, and a major-league-leading 76 walks in 92 games before the shutdown. Will miss the All-Star Game.

Soderstrom was activated July 9 from his own IL stint and now wakes up two days later to find both Kurtz and Gelof in the training room. He is the Oakland starting first baseman for at least the next three weeks and has the bat — a former top overall prospect — to do damage in this role. The A's lineup is lean, but the playing time is guaranteed and catcher eligibility adds real value. Grab him now in 12+ team leagues and hold through the break.

Knee laceration from a full-extension sliding catch into the outfield fence on July 9 vs. Tigers. Came off his own hand IL (June 25) just days before this new injury. Return timeline is unclear but knee lacerations are typically a 2-3 week absence rather than a structural issue.

Alvarado has 2 saves and 4 straight scoreless outings since his June 5 recall and is the closest Oakland has come to a defined closer all year. Mason Barnett (1.23 ERA, 33.3% K rate) remains in the mix, but Alvarado has the hot hand. Add in 14+ team leagues and watch the committee split — two or three more clean save conversions likely locks the role down.

Bolte's 12 home runs and 17 steals across 177 Triple-A plate appearances before his call-up were not a fluke — the power-speed combination is translating in the majors (.341 BA, 2 HR, 2 SB over the last two weeks). He is available in 89% of leagues despite being one of the more dynamic young outfielders on any roster. The main risk is a high strikeout rate catching up to him; his career .310 average projects to regress toward .265. Add now in all formats at 11% owned before someone else's waiver column makes him feel obvious.

Alvarado emerged as the A's primary closer after a June 5 recall and had four straight scoreless appearances, but has since allowed four home runs in his last four outings including a blown save against the Giants. Manager Mark Kotsay has not officially changed the job, but the homer rate is alarming and Oakland's committee history makes a role change possible. Hold cautiously; set a daily lineup reminder.

Jump is the cleanest early-career SP story since Blake Snell's first full season — zero home runs through five starts, elite walk rate, and a 9-strikeout game against San Francisco on June 25. At 35% ownership, this is the most obvious add in standard formats this week. The A's rotation isn't burning him out and he's completing six or more innings regularly.

The 24-year-old Athletics lefty has posted a 2.37 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 26:9 K:BB across 30.1 major-league innings since debuting May 26 — with zero home runs allowed in five starts. His June 25 start (5 IP, 0 ER, 9 Ks vs. San Francisco) was the most dominant of his young career. Jump is in the rotation to stay, and at 35% owned he's your lowest-hanging fruit. Managers who wait until he's 65% will be paying premium trade prices in three weeks.

Scoreless in five of his last six appearances with an elite K rate, and his workload share is trending toward locked-in. Hogan Harris is still on the roster but Alvarado is clearly separating. Best upside play among all unstable closer situations — add now before the official designation arrives.

Scoreless in 5 of his last 6 appearances, posting a 0.36 WHIP with elite K numbers since emerging as Oakland's lead option. Hogan Harris is still in the picture but Alvarado's workload share is growing. Best upside add among committee closers in the short term.

Scoreless in 5 of his last 6 appearances, posting a 0.36 WHIP with 13 Ks and zero walks in that span. Hogan Harris is still technically the lead dog, but Alvarado is closing fast. Worth stashing in 14-team leagues.