Athletics Slump Deepens, McNeil Shines | MLB News

0:00It's September 2nd. I'm Corey with the story. This is MLB News Today, driven by AI and built for baseball fans. The athletics are back in a slump, dropping five straight after a recent loss to the Rangers. This streak has erased any good vibes from their earlier series wins, and honestly, the team just looks a little flat right now. Jeff McNeil has been the standout player in the second half of the season. He's hitting 3-4-6 since the All-Star break, which puts him third and Major League baseball for players with at least 125 at bats. He's also leading the team in hits and stolen bases. On the pitching side, Jose Suarez has really struggled since the break. He zero wins in two losses with a 13.09 earned run average. Batters are hitting him hard, and is probably time to send him down to the minor leagues. Brady Bassell's recent pitching performances haven't been ideal, especially when he's asked to start games. He gave up three earned runs in just one inning against the Astros in his last start as an opener. He seems to perform better when he comes in later in the game.

1:03There's a chance for the team to turn things around in their upcoming series against the Mariners, but they'll need to make some adjustments. The strategy for pitching and player roles needs a closer look to see if they can find a better rhythm.