Struggling Stars Fail to Lift Athletics Against Yankees

Despite big games from Brent Rooker, the A's offense has underwhelmed as Nick Kurtz and other key hitters get off to slow starts.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a baseball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the intensity and unpredictability of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the on-field struggles of two star players, as their teams battle for an early-season advantage.Chicago Today

As the New York Yankees host the Oakland Athletics, the focus is on two of the A's biggest stars - Brent Rooker and Nick Kurtz - who have yet to make a significant impact this season. While Rooker had a big game on Sunday with two home runs, including a walk-off shot, his overall OPS is still just .609. Kurtz is batting a meager .120, putting pressure on catcher Shea Langeliers to carry the offense. The struggles of these two hitters have hindered the A's ability to find success, even as the Yankees have rolled on without one of their key hitters fully contributing.

Why it matters

The early-season struggles of Rooker and Kurtz highlight the challenges teams face when their star players fail to produce as expected. While a short sample size, these slow starts put added pressure on the rest of the lineup and make it difficult for the A's to overcome the Yankees' strong pitching staff. How Rooker and Kurtz respond to these early challenges could determine the trajectory of the A's season.

The details

Rooker and Kurtz, two of the A's most important offensive pieces, have gotten off to incredibly slow starts this season. Rooker's OPS sits at just .609, despite his big game on Sunday, while Kurtz is batting a paltry .120. This has forced catcher Shea Langeliers to shoulder more of the offensive load for the A's, who have struggled to find consistent production as a team. The A's did manage a couple of big wins against the Astros, but their offense has largely underwhelmed in the early going. Meanwhile, the Yankees have been rolling, even without one of their key hitters fully contributing.

  • The Yankees and Athletics are set to face off in a three-game series this week.
  • Brent Rooker hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot, on Sunday.

The players

Brent Rooker

A key offensive player for the Oakland Athletics who has struggled to start the season, despite his big game on Sunday that included a walk-off home run.

Nick Kurtz

Another important hitter for the Athletics who has gotten off to a very slow start, batting just .120 through the first few games.

Shea Langeliers

The Athletics' catcher, who has been one of the better-hitting players on the team so far this season and has had to carry more of the offensive load with Rooker and Kurtz struggling.

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

A player for the Miami Marlins who, like Rooker and Kurtz, has yet to provide much offensive production in the early going.

New York Yankees

The team the Athletics are facing, who have been rolling despite one of their key hitters not fully contributing.

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What’s next

The Yankees and Athletics will continue their three-game series over the next few days, providing more opportunities for Rooker, Kurtz, and other struggling stars to break out of their early-season slumps.

The takeaway

This series highlights the challenges teams face when their star players fail to produce as expected, even for a short period of time. The A's have struggled to find consistent offense with Rooker and Kurtz underperforming, while the Yankees have managed to win despite one of their key hitters not fully contributing. How these players respond to their early-season struggles could have a significant impact on their teams' fortunes going forward.