Ryan Noda, Kyle Muller Shine in Spring Win

Nobody is expecting much from the Oakland Athletics this season. FanDuel has the over/under on their win total set at 59.5. But the club has made some sneaky acquisitions, and has some young guys that could be ready to take a step forward that could help this A's team surprise some people.

Yes, it has only been two games, but the A's have outscored the Diamondbacks and Brewers 23-11 in their two games played, and the club has been getting contributions from up and down the lineup.

On Sunday, it was Rule 5 draftee Ryan Noda that delivered the big blast, a 3-run shot in the top of the seventh that put the A's up 11-1 and was the capper in a 5-run inning. Oakland would win by the final of 11-4. Noda finished the day 1-for-3 with a couple of strikeouts after coming off the bench in the bottom of the fifth, replacing Jesús Aguilar (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run scored) at first base. The 26-year-old Noda is 2-for-5 through two games with Sunday's homer, and a double that bounced up and off the wall on Saturday.

In Triple-A with the Dodgers affiliate last season, Noda hit .259 with a .395 on-base and 25 home runs in 135 games. He's vying to make the Opening Day roster as an option at first base, either corner outfield spot, or DH for the A's.

The other standout performer from Sunday was another newcomer to the A's roster, Kyle Muller. The left-hander was acquired in the Sean Murphy trade in December, and Sunday was A's fans first time getting a glimpse at what he can do. According to the radio broadcast (and another newcomer Johnny Doskow, longtime announcer for the Sacramento RiverCats), it seemed as though his changeup was working well, and his fastball was clocked at 95.

Muller finished the day after two innings, two hits allowed, a walk, and four strikeouts.

Adam Oller made his spring debut too, and outside of the first pitch he threw to Lus Urías that ended up over the fence in left-center, he had a decent outing. After the home run, he allowed a single to Brian Anderson, then walked Victor Caratini before striking out the side. He finished with two innings pitched, three hits allowed, one earned, a walk, and four strikeouts.

Shea Langeliers, now the A's starting backstop after the departure of Sean Murphy, got his first action this season and went 3-for-3 with the first home run by an Athletic this spring. He also put up a double, two RBI, and two runs scored.

Denzel Clarke, set to join Team Canada in just a few days, is 3-for-3 with a double, a HBP, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored in parts of two games.

In the first two games of the spring, the pitcher that the A's have hung the loss on has failed to record a single out in their time on the mound. Yesterday it was Conor Grammes, and today it was Janson Junk. The two pitchers have combined for 0.0 IP, 7 hits, 9 ER, and 3 walks.

On deck for Monday in Mesa against the Colorado Rockies will be newcomer Drew Rucinski, whom the A's signed this winter after the 34-year-old spent the last four seasons dominating the KBO and starting at least 30 games per season.