The Athletics got some good news Tuesday, and they could really use it right now.
Shortstop Jacob Wilson is back from the injured list, reinstated ahead of their game against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s made the move official by recalling lefty Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Las Vegas, optioning right-hander Kade Morris and catcher Brian Serven to Vegas in the process.
Wilson being healthy matters because this team is in trouble. They jumped out to an early lead in the AL West but have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games. Now they’re sitting in fourth place, 5.5 games back of first. That’s not a huge gap, but the way they’ve been playing lately, it might as well be 10 games.
What Wilson Brings Back
Wilson was an All-Star last season, hitting .311 with an .800 OPS. This year has been more of a grind. He’s played only 50 games because of injuries and is hitting .277/.310/.386. Not bad, but not the guy he was in 2025 either.
Even so, his return gives the infield a boost. The A’s have been scrambling for consistency. Nick Kurtz has been solid as an All-Star, but the rest of the lineup is shaky. And with Brent Rooker out for the year after knee surgery, they need every bat they can get.
The timing is rough. The A’s are 41-49, which is honestly better than most people expected from them in 2026. But the recent slide has people wondering what the front office will do before the trade deadline. If they keep losing, selling off pieces starts to make a lot of sense.
No Room for Another Slide
Tuesday’s game against Detroit is first pitch at 6:40 PM EST. Wilson is expected to be in the lineup. The A’s need to start stacking wins, and fast. Because if they don’t turn this around soon, the conversation shifts from staying in the race to figuring out who gets traded.
Wilson’s return is a step in the right direction. But one guy coming off the IL doesn’t fix everything. The rest of the roster has to step up too.
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