Oakland Athletics 2026 campaign

The Athletics entered late July facing a grueling schedule and a spate of injuries, yet remained near the top of the AL West. After a 1‑0 win over the Angels in late June, they rebounded from a two‑game skid with a 2‑0 shutout of the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis on July 24, highlighted by Jacob Lopez’s five‑inning, one‑hit effort and Hogan Harris’s eighth save.

The following night, Alan Roden’s two‑run single broke a 14 2⁄3‑inning scoreless stretch, giving the Twins a 2‑0 victory in which Kendry Rojas made an emergency start and Taylor Rogers earned the win. The series concluded on July 26 with Minnesota routing Oakland 11‑8. The game featured three RBIs from Ryan Jeffers and a solid outing from Connor Prielipp, who returned from a finger blister.

Injuries continued to press Oakland’s depth: starter Mike Paredes was sidelined with an oblique strain, and catcher Shea Langeliers entered the 60‑day list with a meniscus tear. The health concerns fueled trade speculation, particularly surrounding the valuation of Jeffers. Betting markets reflected the Twins’ momentum, with odds favoring Minneapolis and a high total‑runs line.

Despite the setbacks, the Athletics’ strong pitching and timely offense keep them above .500 as the season approaches its final stretch.