Athletics 2018 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2018 Oakland Athletics predictions? The 2018 MLB season is here. The Oakland Athletics are looking to finish better than last place this year in the AL West. The Athletics bring back a promising roster. Khris Davis will lead Oakland lineup again this season.
MLB Athletics Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Oakland Athletics aren’t picked by many to finish in the top of the AL West this season. The A’s finished last year, 75-87. 26 games behind the first place Astros. Coming into the 2018 season, the only way for the Athletics to go is up. If things don’t change, Billy Beane’s leadership could be in question.
The current Athletics roster looks good on paper, but the question still remains about the starting rotation. If the patch work rotation can play well, look for the Athletics to finish in the top three in their division and win more than 80 games this season.
2018 MLB Team Previews – Oakland Athletics
- American League West +2800
- American League +8000
- World Series +20000
Key Additions:
- C Jonathan Lucroy
- LH Ryan Buchter
- RH Yusmeiro Petit
- RH Emilio Pagan
Let’s be honest. The Oakland Athletics are not going to be in the running for the playoffs this year. All they can hope for is improvement. The Athletics recent additions will be helpful, but not seasoned guys that are going to be clubhouse changers. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, should be a key piece to improving the Athletics roster.
Lucroy hit .265 last year with six home runs and 40 RBI last season. His bat could be a factor in Oakland this season.
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The Athletics also acquired three pitchers, to try an boost the depth at the position. Oakland is in need of someone to step up and pitch well this year.
Key Losses:
- C Stephen Vogt
- 1B Yonder Alonso
- 3B Ryon Healey
Oakland is going to miss Stephen Vogt, Yonder Alonzo and Ryon Healy this season. Alonzo had 28 home runs last season.
Athletics Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- SS Marcus Semien
- LF Matt Joyce
- 2B Jed Lowrie
- DH Khris Davis
- 1B Matt Olson
- RF Stephen Piscotty
- C Jonathan Lucroy
- CF Boog Powell/Justin Powell
- 3B Matt Chapman
Khris Davis led the team in home runs last season with 43 last year. He did struggle at the plate with a .247 average last season. If Davis can get his control right , expect a big year from him. Matt Semien hit .249 last year. Jed Lowrie is the teams best all around player.
Lowrie hit .277 with 14 home runs and 69 RBI’s. Matt Joyce is batting second. He should compliment Davis well again this year. He hit .243 and was second on the team in home runs with 25.
Athletics Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- RH Kendall Graveman
- LH Sean Manaea
- RH Daniel Mengden
- RH Daniel Gossett
- RH Andrew Triggs
Oakland’s starting rotation is one of the worst in the majors. Kendall Graveman is the Oakland Ace this year. Graveman was 6-4 with a 4.19 ERA last season. Sean Manaea looked great at times last year, but was not consistent enough. He was 12-10 with a 4.37 ERA for the Athletics in 2017.
Daniel Mengden is the number three starter for Oakland, and had the least experience as a starter last season, finishing 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA. He also finished the season strong, going 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA in September last year.
Athletics Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Blake Treinen
Daniel Gossett will be auditioning to keep a spot in the rotation, the first month of the year. Gossett was 4-11 with a 6.11 ERA last year. Terrible numbers for a major league starter.
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Andrew Triggs rounds out the five starters. Triggs was 4-1 with a 4.84 ERA for the A’s last April, but was sidelined in June the rest of the year with a hip injury. Jharel Cotton could have been a stater this year for Oakland, but he is going to be out for the year with Tommy John surgery.
Blake Treinen is going to start the season as the closer in Oakland. Treninen carried a 2.93 ERA last year, and had 17 saves last season. Hopefully he can get help from the bullpen this year.
2018 Oakland Athletics Prediction:
The Athletics are going to be bad again this year. The team lacks big name star power, and the pitching staff could be one of the worst in the majors. Khris Davis is going to be the talk of the lineup because of his home run hitting ability. Aside from that, Oakland will remain a team that is unknown.
Matt Joyce will also provide power, but his swing and miss problems were obvious last season. Jed Lowrie will do what he does in the field and at the plate. Too bad Oakland doesn’t have four more players like him. If they did, Oakland would be a contender in the AL West
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Don’t expect anything more than fourth place at best this season for the Athletics. If the team comes out hot in April, don’t expect them to sustain winning throughout the year.
Oakland will have another terrible season. The maybe it is time for the Athletics to move in a different direction management wise.
What do you think of our 2018 Oakland Athletics predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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