The Oakland Athletics enter Thursday’s matchup against the Atlanta Braves with the rare luxury of momentum on their side, having quietly put together a string of competitive outings that suggest this rebuilding squad is starting to find its stride. Despite sitting at 38–56 and firmly out of the playoff race, the A’s have covered the run line in six of their last ten games, showing newfound fight and a more consistent offensive approach that has led to several upsets and close contests against superior opponents. At the heart of this resurgence is a group of young players who have embraced their opportunity to earn everyday roles, with Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof emerging as two of the more encouraging storylines in Oakland’s second half. Brent Rooker continues to supply power, while Esteury Ruiz adds speed and havoc on the basepaths, giving the A’s some versatility and unpredictability in their lineup. Manager Mark Kotsay has been forced to mix and match due to injuries and inexperience, but the group has responded well to the challenge, playing with a scrappy edge and showing signs of maturity in situational hitting and pitch selection. The Athletics’ pitching, long a glaring weakness, has also shown flashes of promise, with Paul Blackburn and JP Sears each turning in quality starts of late, while the bullpen—once a nightly liability—has begun to hold its own, especially in games where the A’s jump out to early leads. Though the team’s ERA still ranks near the bottom of the league, recent performances suggest a growing understanding of roles and a better feel for attacking opposing hitters.

Defensively, Oakland is still a work in progress, but the infield has been steadier, and outfield communication has improved, resulting in fewer costly errors and misplays. Thursday’s finale against a reeling Braves team presents an ideal opportunity for the A’s to build further momentum heading into the All-Star break, particularly if their offense can continue to exploit Atlanta’s recent bullpen struggles and offensive stagnation. The A’s should look to grind out at-bats early and force the Braves’ starter into high pitch counts, allowing their own offense more chances against Atlanta’s overworked relievers in the middle innings. Given the team’s improved performance at home and the confidence gained from recent success, there’s a strong case to be made that Oakland could not only stay competitive but pull off another upset—something they’ve done with increasing frequency over the past three weeks. The key will be maintaining focus and not letting up against a Braves squad that, while underperforming, still carries serious talent and the potential to break out at any moment. For a franchise focused on the future, every positive series matters, and finishing this one with a win would send the Athletics into the break feeling like they’ve turned an important corner in a long-term rebuild. With young bats maturing and the pitching staff slowly stabilizing, Thursday’s game is another opportunity for the A’s to show that they’re not just playing out the string—they’re starting to build something real.