This is about as low as it gets for Oakland's — sorry, Sacramento's — Athletics. They're 49-79, they've lost 4 straight, and their injured list reads like a full lineup card: Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Denzel Clarke, Shea Langeliers and Brent Rooker are all out, most of them for the year. This roster has been stripped down to whatever's left standing, and Saturday it showed — 3 hits, 0 runs, game over early.
- 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson (SS) — The Athletics placed Wilson (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Friday.08/21
- 10-Day-ILJoshua Kuroda-Grauer (3B) — The Athletics announced Monday that Kuroda-Grauer (testicle) has resumed taking part in light, non-impact activities, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.08/17
- 10-Day-ILShea Langeliers (C) — The Athletics announced that Langeliers underwent a successful medial meniscectomy Tuesday in Los Angeles and also received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his right knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/28
- 15-Day-ILJose Suarez (RP) — Suarez will serve as the Athletics' opening pitcher during Thursday's game against the Tigers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.08/12
- 60-Day-ILNick Kurtz (1B) — The Athletics transferred Kurtz (thumb) to the 60-day injured list Friday.08/21
- 60-Day-ILTyler Soderstrom (LF) — The Athletics transferred Soderstrom (hip) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.08/20
- 60-Day-ILDenzel Clarke (CF) — Clarke (hamstring) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.08/19
- 60-Day-ILJustin Sterner (RP) — The Athletics transferred Sterner (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.08/16
- 60-Day-ILLuis Severino (SP) — Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said he does not expect Severino (shoulder) to return to a big-league mound this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.08/15
- 60-Day-ILMark Leiter Jr. (RP) — Leiter will undergo surgery Tuesday to address a right hip impingement and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/30
- 60-Day-ILBrent Rooker (DH) — Rooker will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his left knee, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Kriske (RP) — Kriske (shoulder) began a throwing progression Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/16
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund (SP) — Hoglund (knee/back) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip Monday.05/20
- Day-To-DayJeremy Pena (SS) — Pena (hand) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.08/21
- 15-Day-ILMike Burrows (SP) — Burrows struck out five and permitted one hit and two walks over 4.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday.08/21
- 60-Day-ILBrice Matthews (CF) — General manager Dana Brown said Sunday that the Astros are targeting "mid-August, potentially the third week of August" for Matthews' (knee) return from the 10-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.08/19
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa (ankle) has been cleared to hit off a tee, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.08/11
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros announced Friday that Walter (elbow) is in the midst of a throwing progression at the team's complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
The Astros aren't exactly whole either. Jeremy Pena's still dealing with a sore hand after getting drilled by a 100 mph sinker earlier in the week, and Houston had just been embarrassed 18-3 by the Angels the night before. But a shutout is a shutout, and against a team this banged up, it's the kind of win that steadies a club that's been treading water at .500 all month.
The Astros are still fighting for their playoff lives in a crowded AL, and nights like this — cheap, clean, no drama — are exactly what a .500 team needs against a team with nothing left to play for but pride.