2020 Oakland Athletics
American League West Champions
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionWest
BallparkOakland Coliseum
CityOakland, California
Record36–24 (.600)
Divisional place1st
OwnersJohn Fisher
General managersDavid Forst
ManagersBob Melvin
TelevisionNBC Sports California
(Glen Kuiper, Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Ray Fosse, Mark Mulder, Eric Chavez, Shooty Babitt, Dallas Braden)
RadioKNEW (July 30 onward)[1]
(Ken Korach, Vince Cotroneo, Ray Fosse, Coco Crisp)
Seasons

The 2020 Oakland Athletics season was the 120th season for the Oakland Athletics franchise, all as members of the American League, and their 54th season in Oakland. The season saw the Athletics win the American League West for the first time since 2013.

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[2] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[3] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[4]

The A's hit two walk-off grand slams in their first 11 games of the season. They became the 17th team to hit two walk-off slams in the same year, the third team to hit two in an 11-game span and the fastest to do so from the start of the season.[5]

On September 21, 2020, the A's clinched the American League West championship and then defeated the Chicago White Sox in three games in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series. This was the A's first postseason series victory since 2006 and won their first winner-take-all postseason game since Game 7 of the 1973 World Series (snapping an MLB record nine-game losing streak in such contests). However, they lost to the Houston Astros in the 2020 American League Division Series.

Offseason

Rule changes

For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following:[6]

  • Single trade deadline – there will no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year.
  • 26-man roster – rosters will expand from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers.
  • Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.

Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the use of the DH in the National League, a shortened schedule, and starting extra innings with a runner at second base.[7]

Regular season

Standings

AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Oakland Athletics 3624 0.600 — 22–10 14–14
Houston Astros 2931 0.483 7 20–9 9–22
Seattle Mariners 2733 0.450 9 14–10 13–23
Los Angeles Angels 2634 0.433 10 16–15 10–19
Texas Rangers 2238 0.367 14 16–14 6–24
Division Leaders W L Pct.
Tampa Bay Rays 4020 0.667
Oakland Athletics 3624 0.600
Minnesota Twins 3624 0.600


Division 2nd Place W L Pct.
Cleveland Indians 3525 0.583
New York Yankees 3327 0.550
Houston Astros 2931 0.483


Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)		 W L Pct. GB
Chicago White Sox 3525 0.583 +3
Toronto Blue Jays 3228 0.533 —
Seattle Mariners 2733 0.450 5
Los Angeles Angels 2634 0.433 6
Kansas City Royals 2634 0.433 6
Baltimore Orioles 2535 0.417 7
Boston Red Sox 2436 0.400 8
Detroit Tigers 2335 0.397 8
Texas Rangers 2238 0.367 10

Record against opponents

2020 American League record

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2020

Team HOU LAA OAK SEA TEX NL
Houston —4–63–77–35–510–10
Los Angeles 6–4—4–65–54–67–13
Oakland 7–36–4—6–47–310–10
Seattle 3–75–54–6—8–27–13
Texas 5–56–43–72–8—6–14

Game log

2020 Game Log
Total: 36–24 (Home: 21–9; Away: 15–15)
July: 3–4 (Home: 3–3; Away: 0–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
1July 24Angels7–3 (10)Smith (1–0)Robles (0–1)—1–0W1
2July 25Angels1–4Bundy (1–0)Manaea (0–1)Robles (1)1–1L1
3July 26Angels6–4Petit (1–0)Ohtani (0–1)Hendriks (1)2–1W1
4July 27Angels3–0Smith (2–0)Canning (0–1)Soria (1)3–1W2
5July 28Rockies3–8Senzatela (1–0)Mengden (0–1)—3–2L1
6July 29Rockies1–5Márquez (1–1)Montas (0–1)—3–3L2
7July 31@ Mariners3–5Walker (1–1)Manaea (0–2)Williams (2)3–4L3
August: 19–8 (Home: 10–1; Away: 9–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
8August 1@ Mariners3–2 (10)Soria (1–0)Altavilla (1–1)Hendriks (2)4–4W1
9August 2@ Mariners3–2Bassitt (1–0)Graveman (0–2)Hendriks (3)5–4W2
10August 3@ Mariners11–1Montas (1–1)Sheffield (0–2)—6–4W3
11August 4Rangers5–1Hendriks (1–0)Vólquez (0–1)—7–4W4
12August 5Rangers6–4McFarland (1–0)Gibaut (0–1)Soria (2)8–4W5
13August 6Rangers6–4Fiers (1–0)Minor (0–3)Hendriks (4)9–4W6
14August 7Astros3–2 (13)Wendelken (1–0)Sneed (0–1)—10–4W7
15August 8Astros3–1Montas (2–1)Valdez (0–2)Hendriks (5)11–4W8
16August 9Astros7–2Luzardo (1–0)Javier (1–1)Smith (1)12–4W9
17August 10@ Angels9–10Peña (1–0)Petit (1–1)Buttrey (2)12–5L1
18August 11@ Angels0–6Bundy (3–1)Fiers (1–1)—12–6L2
19August 12@ Angels8–4Bassitt (2–0)Canning (0–3)—13–6W1
20August 14@ Giants8–7 (10)Soria (2–0)García (0–1)Hendriks (6)14–6W2
21August 15@ Giants7–6McFarland (2–0)Gott (1–1)Hendriks (7)15–6W3
22August 16@ Giants15–3Fiers (2–1)Webb (1–2)—16–6W4
23August 17@ Diamondbacks3–4Crichton (2–0)Soria (2–1)—16–7L1
24August 18@ Diamondbacks1–10Weaver (1–3)Montas (2–2)—16–8L2
25August 19Diamondbacks4–1Luzardo (2–0)Kelly (3–2)Hendriks (8)17–8W1
26August 20Diamondbacks5–1Manaea (1–2)Young (1–1)—18–8W2
27August 21Angels5–3Fiers (3–1)Heaney (1–2)Hendriks (9)19–8W3
28August 22Angels3–4Andriese (1–1)Bassitt (2–1)Buttrey (3)19–9L1
29August 23Angels5–4 (10)Hendriks (2–0)Buttrey (1–1)—20–9W1
30August 24@ Rangers2–3Lynn (4–0)Luzardo (2–1)Montero (6)20–10L1
31August 25@ Rangers10–3Manaea (2–2)Gibson (1–3)—21–10W1
32August 26@ Rangers3–1Fiers (4–1)Allard (0–3)Hendriks (10)22–10W2
—August 27@ RangersPostponed (strikes due to shooting of Jacob Blake); Makeup: September 12
—August 28@ AstrosPostponed (strikes due to Jacob Blake shooting); Makeup: August 29
33August 29 (1)@ Astros2–4 (7)McCullers Jr. (3–2)Bassitt (2–2)Pressly (5)22–11L1
34August 29 (2)@ Astros3–6 (7)Greinke (2–0)Montas (2–3)Pressly (6)22–12L2
—August 30@ AstrosPostponed (COVID-19); Makeup: September 8
September: 14–12 (Home: 8–5; Away: 6–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecordStreak
—September 1@ MarinersPostponed (COVID-19); Makeup: September 14
—September 2@ MarinersPostponed (COVID-19); Makeup: September 14
—September 3@ MarinersPostponed (COVID-19); Makeup: September 26
35September 4Padres0–7Davies (6–2)Luzardo (2–2)—22–13L3
36September 5Padres8–4Manaea (3–2)Paddack (3–4)—23–13W1
37September 6Padres3–5Richards (2–2)Fiers (4–2)Rosenthal (8)23–14L1
38September 7Astros6–0Bassitt (3–2)Javier (4–2)—24–14W1
39September 8 (1)@ Astros4–2 (7)Montas (3–3)Greinke (3–1)Hendriks (11)25–14W2
40September 8 (2)Astros4–5 (7)Paredes (2–2)Wendelken (1–1)Pressly (8)25–15L1
41September 9Astros3–2Hendriks (3–0)Pressly (1–2)—26–15W1
42September 10Astros3–1Manaea (4–2)Urquidy (0–1)Hendriks (12)27–15W2
43September 11@ Rangers10–6Fiers (5–2)García (0–2)—28–15W3
44September 12 (1)@ Rangers2–5 (7)Benjamin (1–0)Jefferies (0–1)Montero (8)28–16L1
45September 12 (2)@ Rangers10–1Bassitt (4–2)Allard (0–6)—29–16W1
46September 13@ Rangers3–6Lynn (6–2)Montas (3–4)—29–17L1
47September 14 (1)@ Mariners5–6 (7)Gonzales (6–2)Soria (2–2)Hirano (2)29–18L2
48September 14 (2)@ Mariners9–0 (7)Minor (1–5)Yacabonis (0–1)—30–18W1
49September 15@ Rockies1–3Senzatela (4–2)Manaea (4–3)—30–19L1
50September 16@ Rockies3–1Fiers (6–2)Márquez (2–6)Hendriks (13)31–19W1
51September 18Giants6–0Bassitt (5–2)Webb (2–4)—32–19W2
52September 19Giants6–0Luzardo (3–2)Gausman (3–3)—33–19W3
53September 20Giants2–14Anderson (3–3)Minor (1–6)—33–20L1
54September 22@ Dodgers2–7May (2–1)Montas (3–5)—33–21L2
55September 23@ Dodgers6–4Diekman (1–0)Treinen (3–3)Hendriks (14)34–21W1
56September 24@ Dodgers1–5Floro (3–0)Fiers (6–3)—34–22L1
57September 25Mariners3–1 (10)Diekman (2–0)Gerber (1–1)—35–22W1
58September 26 (1)Mariners1–5 (8)Graveman (1–3)Hendriks (3–1)—35–23L1
59September 26 (2)@ Mariners3–12 (7)Dunn (4–1)Blackburn (0–1)—35–24L2
60September 27Mariners6–2Petit (2–1)Hirano (0–1)—36–24W1
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Athletics team member

Roster

2020 Oakland Athletics
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

 Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB AVG SLG
Marcus Semien53211284791723425.223.374
Matt Olson602102841411442134.195.424
Mark Canha591913247122533437.246.408
Ramón Laureano54183273981625224.213.366
Robbie Grossman511662340122823821.241.482
Stephen Piscotty4515917366052949.226.358
Matt Chapman37142223392102508.232.535
Sean Murphy43116212750714024.233.457
Tommy La Stella2797162862111012.289.423
Tony Kemp499315235004315.247.301
Khris Davis308591750210010.200.329
Vimael Machín24631113200008.206.238
Chad Pinder2456813302805.232.393
Jake Lamb1345512403902.267.556
Jonah Heim133858000503.211.211
Austin Allen143116101301.194.323
Franklin Barreto151050000000.000.000
Nate Orf6710000000.000.000
Seth Brown7500000000.000.000
Team Totals60190827443091117126426238.225.396

Source:

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO
Chris Bassitt522.291111063.05618161755
Mike Fiers634.581111059.06531301637
Jesús Luzardo324.12129059.05827271759
Sean Manaea434.501111054.0573227845
Frankie Montas355.601111053.05735332360
Liam Hendriks311.782401425.11465337
J. B. Wendelken111.80210025.017851131
Lou Trivino003.86200023.11610101026
Joakim Soria222.82220222.118871024
Yusmeiro Petit211.66260021.21944517
Mike Minor115.4854021.1151313727
Jake Diekman200.42210021.18211231
T. J. McFarland204.35230020.226101059
Jordan Weems003.2190014.01055718
Daniel Mengden013.6541012.11455710
Burch Smith202.2560112.0733113
James Kaprielian007.362003.243324
Paul Blackburn0127.001102.157722
Daulton Jeffries0122.501102.055521
Team Totals36243.77606017515.1471232216165506

Source:

Postseason

Game log

2020 Postseason Game Log: 3–4
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecap
1September 29White Sox1–4Giolito (1–0)Luzardo (0–1)Colomé (1)0–1
2September 30White Sox5–3Bassitt (1–0)Keuchel (0–1)Diekman (1)1–1
3October 1White Sox6–4Montas (1–0)Marshall (0–1)Hendriks (1)2–1
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveRecap
1October 5Astros5–10Taylor (1–0)Wendelken (0–1)—0–1
2October 6Astros2–5Valdez (1–0)Manaea (0–1)Pressly (1)0–2
3October 7@ Astros9–7Hendriks (1–0)Raley (0–1)—1–2
4October 8@ Astros6–11Javier (1–0)Montas (0–1)—1–3
all games played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA

Wild Card Series

The A's hosted the Chicago White Sox at the Oakland Coliseum in the Wild Card series.

Game 1

Rookie left hander Jesús Luzardo got the ball for Game 1 against White Sox ace Lucas Giolito. Outfielder Adam Engel got the scoring started with a solo home run. MVP candidate José Abreu added a 2-run home run. Meanwhile, Giolito carried a perfect game into the 7th inning before giving up a leadoff single to Tommy La Stella. Giolito would end up going 7+ innings, allowing 1 run. Yasmani Grandal added a solo home run in the 8th. A's outfielder Ramón Laureano grounded into a force play to make it 4–1 before White Sox closer Álex Colomé shut the door in the 9th inning.

Game 2

A's ace Chris Bassitt got the ball for Game 2 against White Sox lefty Dallas Keuchel. The A's got ahead early with an fielding error from White Sox 2nd baseman Nick Madrigal that scored 2 runs. A's shortstop Marcus Semien added a 2-run home run in the 2nd and A's DH Khris Davis added a solo home run in the 4th inning, chasing Keuchel from the game after 3+1⁄3. Bassitt would pitch 7+1⁄3, allowing 1 run. Grandal hit his 2nd home run of the series off A's closer Liam Hendriks and Grandal would bring in a run via a bases loaded walk. Diekman replaced Hendriks and got Jose Abreu to ground out to tie the series and send the series to a winner-take-all Game 3.

Game 3

The A's sent out right hander Mike Fiers, while the White Sox counted with righty Dane Dunning. The White Sox struck first on a monster home run from rookie Luis Robert. The White Sox added two more runs in the 3rd inning on an RBI single from Robert and an RBI double from Nomar Mazara. The A's got back into the game with a 2-run home run from rookie catcher Sean Murphy, then back 2 back bases loaded walks gave the A's the lead, 4–3. The White Sox tied the game on an RBI single from Mazara. The A's added insurance in the 6th with a 2-run single from utility player Chad Pinder. A's closer Liam Hendriks, who threw 49 pitches in Game 2, pitched around a leadoff single from White Sox catcher James McCann, striking out Yoan Moncada, Robert & Mazara to send the A's to the ALDS against the Houston Astros.

ALDS

The A's lost to their division rivals, the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Game 1

The A's announced that ace Chris Bassitt would get the ball for Game 1 against right hander Lance McCullers Jr. A's DH Khris Davis got the scoring started with a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning, followed by a Sean Murphy solo shot in the 3rd inning. The Astros responded with a solo home run from Alex Bregman and a game-tying home run from Carlos Correa in the top of the 4th. The A's responded quickly with a solo shot from Matt Olson to put the A's back in front, 4–3. A Mark Canha sacrifice fly extended the A's lead to 5–3. Both starters went 4 innings. The Astros took the lead in the 6th inning when Josh Reddick reached on a fielding error with 2 outs, Martín Maldonado singled, George Springer doubled in Reddick, José Altuve doubled in both Maldonado & Springer & Michael Brantley singled in Altuve to make it 7–5. Correa hit his 2nd home run of the game to make it 8–5. The Astros broke it open in the 9th inning with a Correa RBI single & a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice fly. Ryan Pressly worked a 1-2-3 9th inning to seal the Game 1 victory for the Astros.

Game 2

Left handed pitcher Sean Manaea will get the ball, he will be opposed by Astros lefty Framber Valdez. A's DH Khris Davis hit another home run to give the A's the lead in the 2nd inning. The Astros fought back and took the lead when George Springer hit a 2-run home run. The Astros added another run on an RBI groundout. The A's would strike back with a Chad Pinder solo home run in the 4th inning. Martín Maldonado & Springer went back-to-back in the 5th inning. Both pitching staffs then held the game scoreless after that. With Astros closer Ryan Pressly picking up the save, the A's were put in an 0–2 ALDS hole.

Game 3

Astros manager Dusty Baker announced that right hander José Urquidy will get the ball for Game 3, while the A's will give the ball to lefty Jesús Luzardo. A's second baseman Tommy La Stella got the scoring started with a solo home run in the first inning. The Astros responded with a solo home run from José Altuve and an RBI groundout to take the lead. The A's responded again with a solo home run from left fielder Mark Canha. The A's took the lead in the 4th inning on an Olson solo home run. The A's would add another home run with a Marcus Semien solo shot. The Astros tied it in the bottom of the 5th inning with an Aledmys Díaz 2-run home run. The Astros would regain the lead with a Michael Brantley RBI single, an Alex Bregman RBI double and a Kyle Tucker RBI single. The A's would tie in the top of the 7th on a Pinder 3-run home run. The A's would add two sacrifice flies in the 8th inning to cap the scoring. A's closer Liam Hendriks pitched 3 scoreless innings to save the A's season and send the series to a Game 4.

Game 4

The A's started Frankie Montas while the Astros started Zack Greinke. A's outfielder Ramón Laureano got the scoring started with a 3-run home run. The Astros responded in the 4th inning with a 2-run home run from Astros DH Michael Brantley and a 3-run home run from Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. The A's responded in the 5th inning with another home run from Laureano that chased Greinke from the game. Lefty Blake Taylor came in and got the final out of the 5th inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Brantley hit his 2nd home run of the game and Correa added an RBI single to make it 7–4 Astros. In the 6th inning, Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker added an RBI single followed by another single for Correa that made it 9–4. Astros 2nd baseman José Altuve hit a 2-run home run to make it 11–4 Astros. Astros pitcher Cristian Javier pitched 2+1⁄3 scoreless innings. A's shortstop Marcus Semien got an RBI single & A's 2nd baseman Tommy La Stella singled in Semien before Astros closer then shut the door in the 9th inning to send the Astros to the ALCS and eliminate the A's

Postseason rosters

Playoff rosters
American League Wild Card Series
American League Division Series

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Las Vegas Aviators Pacific Coast League
AA Midland RockHounds Texas League
A-Advanced Stockton Ports California League
A Beloit Snappers Midwest League
A-Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters New York–Penn League
Rookie AZL Athletics Arizona League
Rookie DSL Athletics Dominican Summer League

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Oakland A's Drop TuneIn as Radio Flagship; to Move to iHeartRadio App & 960 KNEW".
    2. ↑ Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
    3. ↑ "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
    4. ↑ Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
    5. ↑ Kawahara, Matt (August 5, 2020). "A's two walk-off grand slams in 11 games: How rare is it?". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
    6. ↑ "Report: Single-trade deadline, 26-man roster, 3-batter minimum among changes in next 2 years". masslive. March 14, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
    7. ↑ Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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