3 Goals Athletics Must Accomplish To Avoid Getting Swept

After losing five straight, the Athletics need something to give in the series finale.

Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) walks off the mound after the second inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Athletics at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026 The game was tied 1-1 after three innings. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Athletics need a few things to go their way to end what has been a tragic series on a high note.

With the Athletics completely imploding in the Orioles series and now in the Rangers series, it is clear that this team needs to find some improvement. If this team meets the benchmarks in the final game of the series, it could imply a smoother road ahead. Here is what needs to happen.

Athletics Bat .500 With RISP

Aug 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Athletics designated hitter Lawrence Butler (4) hits a single against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In the last two games of the series, the Athletics are batting just .167 (2-for-12) with runners in scoring position. During the loss on Tuesday, the Athletics went 2-for-10, a mark that somehow was able to produce five runs. Knowing this team is capable of producing a run total above the league average while failing to capitalize consistently is something to be proud of.

In order for this to happen, we need to see big games from Jonah Heim and other players who hit in the middle of the lineup. But in order for these opportunities to occur, we need to see Zack Gelof and Henry Bolte get on base at least twice throughout the game. If this can happen, the Athletics should be in a very good spot.

Jacob Lopez Needs More Efficient Innings

Aug 28, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jacob Lopez (57) reacts to striking out Baltimore Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo (16) during the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

A big reason for the Athletics' recent skid was an interesting Jacob Lopez start in the first game of the Orioles series. In the loss, he pitched 5.0 innings while allowing just three hits and giving up one run. This outing, while it looked good on the surface, was the spark for the losing streak.

Lopez would reach 100 pitches exactly to finish the fifth inning. This basically meant that he was headed to the bench, as anything more could have led to injury or a major implosion. This, in turn, would cause Mark Kotsay to go to the bullpen earlier than he would have liked, which paved the way for him to use four relievers to finish the game. This severely limited who the Athletics could use for the rest of that series and, for the most part, in this series.

Bullpen One Earned Run Max

Aug 23, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris (36) delivers a pitch during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Athletics bullpen could be in trouble, as the team has already exhausted six different relief pitchers during the series. However, they still have two of their most reliable pitchers, Elvis Alvarado and Hogan Harris, left to utilize to finish the series. But that does not mean the Athletics should feel comfortable at all.

As mentioned earlier, if Lopez struggles to get outs cleanly, the team could be in a lot of trouble. If this happens, the bullpen has to stand firm by keeping the damage to a minimum. Fewer runs across the board means fewer pitchers, something that will be needed if there is hope for a turnaround vs. the Mariners in the upcoming series.