2023 Oakland Athletics season

On November 7, 2022, the Athletics announced that bench coach Brad Ausmus would not return for the 2023 season.[1] On November 28, the club announced that Darren Bush would be promoted from third base coach to bench coach. The A's also announced that Eric Martins would move over from first base coach to third base, as Mike Aldrete takes over as first base coach. Oakland also named Mike McCarthy as bullpen coach.[2]

Pursuant to the CBA, new rule changes will be in place for the 2023 season:[3]

• institution of a pitch clock between pitches;
• limits on pickoff attempts per plate appearance;
• limits on defensive shifts requiring two infielders to be on either side of second and be within the boundary of the infield; and
• larger bases (increased to 18-inch squares);

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Thursday, March 30, 2023 vs. Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Coliseum.

• March 24 – The Athletics announced that Kyle Muller will be the Opening Day starting pitcher.[16]
• March 30 – In the first game of the season, the A's faced the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Coliseum. Kyle Muller pitched five innings, allowing only one run. Oakland scored two runs in the eighth inning to win the game 2-1. Aledmys Díaz had two hits in his A's debut and drove in the game winning run. Trevor May earned the victory in his first game with Oakland.[17]

• April 1 – After a scheduled day off, the A's resumed their three-game series with the Angels. Ramón Laureano hit his first home run of the season, however, the Angels scored 11 runs in the 3rd inning, easily defeating Oakland 13-1. Shintaro Fujinami struggled in his first career start, allowing eight runs in 2.1 innings.[18]
• April 2 – The Athletics were limited to only five hits in a 6-0 loss to the Angels. Jesús Aguilar and Shea Langeliers each recorded two hits for Oakland. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani hit back-to-back home runs for Los Angeles in the fifth inning.[19]
• April 3 – Oakland opened a three-game home series against the Cleveland Guardians. Seth Brown hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to tie the game. Ramón Laureano and Jace Peterson also hit home runs, but the A's lost the high scoring game 12-11 to Cleveland in 10 innings.[20]
• April 4 – Tony Kemp hit a game winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Ryan Noda, as Oakland snapped their three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Cleveland. Trevor May earned his second win of the season.[21]
• April 5 – In the eighth inning, Ryan Noda hit his first career home run, then Jesús Aguilar hit a three-run home run, as the A's rallied down from 4-0 to tie the game. In the tenth inning, the Guardians scored twice, defeating Oakland 6-4 in the final game of the series.[22]
• April 7 – The Athletics began their first road series of the season, facing the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ryan Noda hit a home run for the second consecutive game and Shea Langeliers hit his first home run of the season. Ken Waldichuk struggled in his start, allowing eight runs in three innings, as the A's lost to Tampa Bay 9-5.[23]
• April 8 - Oakland managed only three singles in a 11-0 loss to the Rays. Shintaro Fujinami struggled, allowing five runs in 4.1 innings, while walking four and striking out only one batter. The loss was the third in the row for Oakland and sixth in seven games since winning on Opening Day.[24]
• April 9 - The A's offense continued to struggle, as Ramón Laureano hit a double in the fourth inning for Oakland's only hit of the game. James Kaprielian also struggled in his start, allowing seven earned runs in 4.2 innings, as the Rays swept the three-game series, beating the Athletics 11-0 for the second consecutive game.[25]
• April 10 - Oakland began a four-game road series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Ramón Laureano hit an RBI triple in the first inning. That would be the only offense for the A's, as the Orioles won the series opener 5-1, extending Oakland's losing skid to five games.[26]
• April 11 - Shea Langeliers hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning and Jace Peterson drove in two runners. Oakland took a 7-3 in the fifth inning, however, the Orioles came back, sending the A's to their sixth straight loss, by a score of 12-8. Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle hit two home runs and drove in nine runs.[27]
• April 12 - Carlos Pérez had three hits, including a home run, while Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer, as Oakland snapped their six game losing streak, defeating the Orioles 8-4. Chad Smith earned his first career victory. The win was Oakland's first on the road this season.[28]
• April 13 - Brent Rooker hit two home runs and drove in five runners, as the A's rallied from a 7-4 deficit to tie the game. In the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles Adley Rutschman hit the game winning home run, as the Athletics lost to Baltimore 8-7. Esteury Ruiz and Carlos Pérez each had three hits for Oakland.[29]
• April 14 - The Athletics returned home to begin a three-game interleague series against the New York Mets. The A's walked an Oakland-record 17 batters, the second most in franchise history, only behind 18 walks issued in 1916 when they were the Philadelphia Athletics. Brent Rooker hit a home run for the third straight game, while Aledmys Díaz and Shea Langeliers added home runs for Oakland. The Mets Francisco Lindor hit two home runs and drove in seven runs, as New York crushed the Athletics 17-6.[30]
• April 15 - Oakland's offense was limited to only five hits, as the A's lost their third game in a row, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Mets. Shintaro Fujinami pitched well, allowing three runs in six innings, but took the loss to drop his record to 0-3.[31]
• April 16 - In the bottom of the eighth, Shea Langeliers hit a two-run double, giving Oakland a 3-2 lead. The Mets came back as Pete Alonso hit a home run off of Dany Jiménez, tying the game 3-3. In the 10th inning, the Mets took the lead 4-3 after a wild pitch from Zach Jackson. The A's couldn't score in the bottom half of the inning, as New York swept the three-game series, winning the game 4-3. With the loss, Oakland's record dropped to 3-13.[32]
• April 17 - The Athletics began a three-game home interleague series against the Chicago Cubs. Kyle Muller struggled in his start, allowing 13 hits and six runs in four innings. Esteury Ruiz had two hits for the A's and scored their only run in a 10-1 loss.[33]
• April 18 - The A's were held to only two hits in a 4-0 loss to the Cubs. Ken Waldichuk had a solid start, pitching five shutout innings and striking out five batters. With the loss, Oakland dropped to 3-15 on the season, tying the 1951 Philadelphia Athletics for the worst 18 game start in franchise history.[34]
• April 19 - Oakland dropped their seventh straight game, losing 12-2 to the Cubs. In his Major League debut, Mason Miller started and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out five and had a no-decision. With the loss, the A's dropped to 3-16, and continue to tie the 1951 team for the worst start in club history.[35]
• April 20 - Team president Dave Kaval announced that the franchise had purchased a plot of land in Las Vegas near the strip. In a statement to MLB.com, he stated the that the franchise is "really putting all our focus in Las Vegas and the efforts there".[36]
• April 21 - After a scheduled day off, Oakland began a seven-game road trip, beginning with three games in Arlington, Texas to face the Texas Rangers. After Texas took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, JP Sears settled in and pitched six innings, striking out a career-high 11 batters. The A's battled back, tying the game 4-4 heading into the ninth inning. In the ninth, Jordan Díaz came up as a pinch hitter and hit his first career home run. Jeurys Familia shut the door in the bottom half of the inning, earning his first save of the season, as Oakland defeated Texas 5-4 to snap their seven game losing streak.[37]
• April 22 - Shintaro Fujinami struggled in his start, allowing eight runs in 2.1 innings pitched, as Texas crushed the Athletics 18-3. Fujinami's record dropped to 0-4 with a 14.40 ERA in his first four career starts. Jesús Aguilar hit a home run for the A's in the loss. The Rangers Adolis García hit three home runs and drove in eight runners.[38]
• April 23 - Shea Langeliers hit his fourth home run of the season, however, the A's lost the final game of the series 5-2 to Texas. Former Oakland player Robbie Grossman hit a three-run home run for the Rangers in the second inning and drove in four runs during the game. Rangers ace Jacob de Grom struck out 11 batters in six innings. The loss dropped the A's overall record to 4-18.[39]
• April 24 - Oakland concluded their seven-game road trip with a four-game series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California against the Los Angeles Angels. In the series opener, Brent Rooker and Jesús Aguilar each hit two home runs and Kevin Smith added a home run, as Oakland rallied from being down 8-7 to defeat the Angels 11-10 in 10 innings. Adam Oller earned his first win of the season and Jeurys Familia earned his second save.[40]
• April 25 - The Angels roughed up Mason Miller by scoring four runs in the first inning, erasing an early 1-0 lead the Athletics took in the first half of the inning. Shea Langeliers hit his fifth home run of the year, as Oakland dropped a 5-3 decision to Los Angeles.[41]
• April 26 - Luis Medina made his major league debut, pitching five innings, in which he allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, while striking out six batters. Kevin Smith hit his second home run of the season. Esteury Ruiz stole four bases, giving him nine total on the season. The A's dropped their second straight game, losing 11-3.[42]
• April 27 - Brent Rooker hit a three-run home run and Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer. JP Sears struggled in his start, pitching 4.2 innings while allowing six runs. The Angels defeated Oakland by a score of 8-7, as they finished their seven game road trip with a 2-5 record.[43]
• April 28 - The Athletics returned home to face the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game interleague series. Ryan Noda and Brent Rooker each had three hits, a home run and drove home two runners, while Shea Langeliers had two hits and drove in three runners. Drew Rucinski struggled in his Athletics debut, allowing 11 hits and five runs, three earned, in 5.2 innings. This was Rucinski's first MLB game since September 29, 2018. The A's losing streak extended to four games, as Cincinnati won the series opener 11-7.[44]
• April 29 - Kyle Muller pitched a solid five innings, allowing only one run, while striking out three. The A's took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, however, the Reds scored twice off of Jeurys Familia. The A's were shutdown in the bottom half of the inning, as their losing skid reached five games with a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati.[45]
• April 30 - Esteury Ruiz hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the A's avoided the series sweep by winning the final game 5-4 over the Reds. Brent Rooker and Jesús Aguilar each hit a home run and drove home two runners. The win snapped the A's losing streak at five games.[46]

• May 2 - After a day off, the Athletics hosted the Seattle Mariners for a three-game series. In the series opener, Mason Miller was throwing a no-hitter after seven innings before being pulled out of the game after throwing 100 pitches and Oakland holding a 1-0 lead. With Miller out of the game, the Mariners scored twice in the top of the eighth inning, as Oakland lost the game 2-1. Esteury Ruiz had the lone RBI for Oakland, hitting a double in the sixth inning to score Tony Kemp.[47]
• May 3 - JP Sears pitched six shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Esteury Ruiz and Tony Kemp each hit RBI doubles in the sixth inning, giving the A's a 2-0 lead. The Mariners battled back, tying the game in the ninth inning. In the tenth, Seattle put up five runs, as Oakland lost the game 7-2.[48]
• May 4 - The Mariners completed the three-game sweep, defeating Oakland 5-3. JJ Bleday hit his first home run of the season. Bleday and Ramón Laureano each had two hits in the loss. The loss dropped the A's record to 3-15 at home and 6-26 overall.[49]
• May 5 - Oakland begins a three-game weekend series at Kauffman Stadium to face the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Missouri. Brent Rooker and Ramón Laureano hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning, while Rooker and Ryan Noda each drove home three runners. Esteury Ruiz stole two bases, giving him 15 on the season to lead the American League. The Athletics snapped their three game losing skid, defeating the Royals 12-8.[50]
• May 6 - JJ Bleday had two hits, including a home run, while Esteury Ruiz drove home two runners, as the Athletics won consecutive games for the first time this season, defeating the Royals 5-4. The A's bullpen pitched four shutout innings, allowing only one run. Zach Jackson earned his first save of the season in the win.[51]
• May 7 - Mason Miller had a solid start, pitching six innings, allowing two runs and striking out five. The A's offense was shutdown, as they managed only four hits in the game. Kansas City won the final game of the series, defeating Oakland 5-1.[52]
• May 8 - The Athletics travelled to The Bronx, New York for a three game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. JP Sears had a tough start against his former team, as the Yankees hit three home runs against him. Sears allowed five runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Esteury Ruiz had two hits and stole his 17th base of the season in the A's 7-2 loss to the Yankees.[53]
• May 9 - Jordan Díaz hit three home runs and collected four RBI to lead the Athletics offense. Shea Langeliers had three hits and scored a run. Drew Rucinski struggled in his start, allowing seven runs, five earned, in five innings. Oakland dropped their third game in a row, losing 10-5 to the Yankees.[54]
• May 10 - In the final game of the series, Carlos Pérez, Jace Peterson and JJ Bleday each hit solo home runs. Kyle Muller allowed four runs in the first inning, then the Yankees put the game out of reach with seven runs in the fifth. New York defeated Oakland 11-3 to sweep the series.[55]
• May 11 - Oakland returns home for a four-game series against their divisional rivals, the Texas Rangers. The Athletics offense managed only three hits, two of them by Esteury Ruiz, as Texas shutout Oakland 4-0. The loss extends Oakland's losing skid to five games.[56]
• May 12 - Brent Rooker hit a walk-off three-run home runs for the Athletics, as they snapped their five game losing streak with a 9-7 in ten innings. Esteury Ruiz had four hits, drove home four runners and scored two runs and he hit his first career home run. Carlos Pérez and Kevin Smith also hit home runs in the victory.[57]
• May 13 - The Athletics managed only five hits in a 5-0 loss to the Rangers. James Kaprielian pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven. Rangers pitcher Jon Gray pitched eight shutout innings.[58]
• May 14 - Shea Langeliers hit a two-run home run and drove home three runners, however, the A's dropped the final game of the series, losing 11-3 to the Rangers. Ramón Laureano and Aledmys Díaz each had two hits for Oakland. The game was tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth, however, Texas broke it open with eight runs in the inning. The loss drops the A's overall record to 9-33.[59]
• May 15 - The A's opened a three-game interleague home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nick Allen had two hits and scored a run and Jace Peterson hit a solo home run in the A's 5-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. Drew Rucinski struggled in his start, allowing five runs in three innings, walking five batters and recording no strikeouts. The announced attendance was 2,064, the A's smallest home crowd (excluding the COVID-19 restricted 2020 season) since drawing 1,037 fans on September 19, 1979.[60]
• May 16 - Ryan Noda hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning, erasing Arizona's 8-4 lead. With the game tied 8-8 in the bottom of the 12th inning, Esteury Ruiz singled home Ramón Laureano, as the Athletics came back to defeat the Diamondbacks by a score of 9-8.[61]
• May 17 - Ramón Laureano hit a three-run home run for the Athletics, however, it wasn't enough as the A's dropped the final game of the series, losing 5-3 to Arizona. Luis Medina had a solid start, pitching six innings while allowing three runs.[62]
• May 19 - Following an off day, the A's travel to Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas for a three game series against their divisional rivals, the Houston Astros.

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