PT TOMORROW: AL West—Check the fine print

Oakland Athletics

At the season's outset, the A's had an embarrassment of bullpen riches and plenty of ninth inning possibilities behind newly-acquired closer Jim Johnson (RHP, OAK). Flash forward to early June, and Johnson has been a massive disappointment, Ryan Cook has been on-and-off the DL, and while Luke Gregerson's numbers say he's pitched well, he's also has coughed up inherited leads five times in the early season. All of which has left  Sean Doolittle (LHP, OAK) as the last man standing and firmly in command of the closer role.

While LHPs seem to encounter discrimination with respect to full-time closing, and OAK isn't an organization that would seem reluctant to return to a bullpen by committee, don't expect Doolittle to lose...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

CJ Kayfus had a bad night in left field on Sunday. Could it hurt his playing time going forward? Plus, a look at early lineups in CHW and DET, the closer situation in KC, and positional flexibility for the Twins C.J. Culpepper.
Apr 2 2026 3:05am
With Bryan Abreu's early season struggles, is there a change to be made at closer in Houston?
Apr 1 2026 3:05am
Jesús Sánchez (pictured) and Nathan Lukes are jockeying for at-bats in left field for Toronto. Plus, more fallout from the first weekend of action in 2026.
Mar 31 2026 3:05am
This week's NL West column answers the lineup questions we posed at the beginning of spring training.
Mar 28 2026 3:05am

Tools