Shea Langeliers' power surge wasted as A's pitching staff struggles

The Athletics' offense was not the issue, but their pitching let them down in the opening series against the Blue Jays.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:56pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion and energy of a baseball game, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form, representing the Athletics' offensive and pitching struggles in their opening series.A cubist interpretation of the Athletics' offensive firepower being stifled by their pitching struggles in the opening series.Kansas City Today

The Oakland Athletics opened their 2026 season with a tough three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, losing all three games and being outscored 11-16. While the offense, led by Shea Langeliers' three home runs, performed well, the pitching staff struggled, with the bullpen blowing leads on Friday and Saturday. The Athletics now face a tough test against the Atlanta Braves, who have started their season strong on the mound.

Why it matters

The Athletics were hoping to start the season on a high note, but their pitching woes have dampened the optimism surrounding the team. If the pitching staff cannot find its footing, it could derail the team's playoff aspirations, despite their potent offense.

The details

In the opening series against the Blue Jays, the Athletics' offense was not the issue, as Shea Langeliers blasted two home runs on Friday and added a third on Saturday. However, the pitching staff struggled, with the bullpen blowing leads on both Friday and Saturday. The team's concerns about the pitching staff, which were present during the offseason, have now been realized.

  • The Athletics lost all three games against the Blue Jays from March 27-29, 2026.
  • Shea Langeliers hit two home runs on Friday, March 27, and one more on Saturday, March 28.

The players

Shea Langeliers

The Athletics' catcher, who was the reigning AL Rookie of the Year Award winner, had a strong start to the season, hitting three home runs in the opening series against the Blue Jays.

Luis Morales

The Athletics' starting pitcher, whose shaky outing on opening day did nothing to ease concerns about the team's pitching staff.

Nick Kurtz

The Athletics' outfielder, who was expected to have a hot start to the season but was overshadowed by Shea Langeliers' power surge.

Joel Reuter

The Bleacher Report analyst who pointed out the Athletics' pitching concerns, despite their stellar offense.

Atlanta Braves

The Athletics' next opponent, who have also started the season strong on the mound, holding the Kansas City Royals to just six runs in their first three games.

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What they’re saying

“A shaky start from Luis Morales and a pair of blown saves from the bullpen does nothing to ease concerns that the Athletics don't have the pitching to back their stellar offense.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Analyst

What’s next

The Athletics will look to bounce back in their next series against the Atlanta Braves, who have also started the season strong on the mound. This could be a tough test for the Athletics' offense, but it will ultimately come down to how well their pitching staff handles the challenge.

The takeaway

The Athletics' offensive firepower, led by Shea Langeliers' power surge, was wasted in their opening series due to the struggles of their pitching staff. If the team cannot address these pitching concerns, it could jeopardize their playoff aspirations, despite their potent lineup.