The Oakland Athletics come into Tuesday’s home contest against the Atlanta Braves with a 37–55 record and a renewed sense of purpose after a stretch of improved performances that have made them a more competitive unit than their early-season form suggested. While their overall win-loss mark remains underwhelming, the A’s have quietly gone 6–4 against the spread in their last ten games and have started to establish a more reliable identity behind improved bullpen pitching, timely hitting, and better defensive execution. Leading the charge offensively is Brent Rooker, who has powered the A’s with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs, consistently providing a threat in the middle of the lineup and forcing opposing pitchers to work around him. Perhaps even more encouraging has been the emergence of Jacob Wilson, whose .335 batting average has given Oakland a dependable presence near the top of the order. Wilson’s consistency, paired with Rooker’s power, has helped the Athletics stay in games longer and allowed them to rally in the later innings—something they struggled to do earlier in the season. The team’s defense has also improved significantly in recent weeks, with fewer errors and sharper infield play turning double plays and giving pitchers a fighting chance.

Oakland’s bullpen, a sore spot in years past, has turned into a relative strength with several arms stepping up in key late-game situations, keeping games within reach and converting close leads into victories. The starting rotation remains in flux, and it’s unclear who will take the ball Tuesday, but regardless of the starter, the A’s will likely lean heavily on the bullpen again. What’s been most striking is how the team has played at home during this stretch—they’ve kept games competitive, taken early leads more often, and limited big innings defensively. The matchup with Atlanta presents an intriguing opportunity for Oakland to continue building confidence, particularly against a Braves team that is reeling and has one of the worst recent ATS records in the league. Historically, the A’s have struggled head-to-head with Atlanta, but with the Braves lacking stability in both the rotation and bullpen and having a lineup that has cooled off substantially, Oakland may have caught them at the right time. Manager Mark Kotsay will look to press any advantages he can find—whether through aggressive baserunning, matchup-based pinch hitting, or timely defensive shifts—to pull off a win that would signal continued progress for a club that many wrote off early. The A’s aren’t playing for a postseason spot at this point, but they are building something more meaningful in the second half: a culture of competitiveness, player development, and momentum that could carry over into next season. A win over the Braves would not only be another small victory in that larger rebuild narrative but also serve as a statement that this team isn’t laying down for anyone, especially not at home.