Athletics 2019 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2019 Oakland Athletics predictions? Oakland was one of the biggest playoff surprises of recent season, winning 97 games to get a Wild Card slot. They probably can’t do that again but nobody thought they could in the first place either.
MLB Athletics Predictions & Handicapping Insight
Oakland did is mostly with pitching last season but it is not like they are blessed with a stable of aces. That is why expectations are at best medium for this team coming into 2019.
In the every day lineup they have some very good players including Matt Chapman who looks like he could be an elite player. They can hit the ball out of the ballpark but don’t have much speed.
2019 MLB Team Previews – Oakland Athletics
- Athletics American League Central Odds +800
- Athletics American League Odds +1500
- Athletics World Series Odds +3000
Key Additions:
- 2B Jurickson Profar
- SP Marco Estrada
- RP Joakim Soria
Oakland’s philosophy is to always take a chance on players who might have something left. Profar was a hot prospect who never really panned out for Texas. They want him to be their regular second baseman.
Estrada was an important pitcher for Toronto when they were good in 2015 and 2016. He fell off hard but could thrive in a pitcher friendly park.
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Soria has experience and can be an effective arm in the bullpen in all situations.
Key Losses:
- C Jonathan Lucroy
The veteran catcher was definitely a factor in their pitching success a year ago.
2019 Oakland Athletics Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- 2B Jurickson Profar
- 3B Matt Chapman
- 1B Matt Olson
- DH Khris Davis
- RF Steve Piscotty
- LF Robbie Grossman
- SS Marcus Semien
- C Nick Hundley
- CF Ramon Laureano
2-3-4 they are very good. Chapman is just on the verge of busting out and Davis hit 48 homers last season. In between Olson put up big numbers and Profar should score 100 runs easy this season.
Once you get past that though there are a lot of question marks. If Semien can have a really good season and Laureano is solid they might have enough offense.
2019 Oakland Athletics Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- RH Mike Fiers
- RH Marco Estrada
- LH Brett Anderson
- RH Daniel Mengden
- RH Frankie Montas
There are no Cy Young threats on this staff. Fiers was really good after being acquired midseason but it is not like his track record is spotless. When Estrada is on he can be elite in turns of results with that change up.
Maybe one of the younger guys at the back end of the rotation surprise but there are no huge arms back there.
2019 Oakland Athletics Predictions: Projected Closer:
- RH Blake Treinen
Oakland does not have a lot of power arms but Treinen is one of them. His K rate was up over 11 per nine innings a year ago.
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The same goes for Soria who seems to be aging well as a reliever. He actually had 16 saves in split duty with Milwaukee and Chicago.
Fernando Rodney, who is 42 helps make this one of the oldest bullpens in the Majors. If the season gets away from them they will have lots of parts to auction off.
2019 Oakland Athletics Predictions:
I don’t think anyone saw last season coming. The A’s started playing well and before you knew it the season was over and they were in the playoffs.
Just like last year they could be helped by being in a poor division. Houston is great but the other teams are not going to offer much. Seattle was better last year then they are expected to be this season.
I think it is going to be a lot to expect to pitch as well as they did a year ago. The lineup could be more productive though.
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The bullpen has experience but I expect them to be a solid unit. They are not going to lead in strikeout but Oakland is never going to focus on that.
Last year’s 97 wins look like an outlier but this could be a competitive team. Probably more like .500 though.
What do you think of our 2019 Oakland Athletics predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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