Kurtz Thumb Injury Could Cost Oakland Its Best Power Threat

Nick Kurtz was already on the 10-day IL with a strained right thumb when the news got worse this week: the Athletics first baseman may miss the rest of the season. He had 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 63 games before going down, and for a lineup that has averaged 3.5 runs per game over its last 10 contests, that kind of production is not easy to absorb.

The broader injury picture is grim. Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Denzel Clarke are all on the 60- or 10-day IL, which means Oakland has lost several of its most productive bats at the same time. The pitching staff is similarly depleted — Jeffrey Springs, Luis Severino, Mark Leiter Jr., and Gunnar Hoglund are all unavailable. Twelve players on the injured list total.

The standings don't leave much room. Oakland is 39-55, seven games back of the last wild card with 68 to play. The elimination number is 52. They went 2-8 over their last 10 games and have been outscored by three runs per game in that stretch. The front office is also in transition after David Forst's departure last week, so there is no clear decision-maker in place as the roster situation deteriorates.

The one bright note, for what it's worth: Jacob Wilson just set the MLB record for consecutive games without an error at shortstop, reaching 111. It is a genuine achievement in a season that has offered very few of them.