On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, we dissect the most lopsided loss of the season as the A’s get torched 13–3 by a familiar face—former A’s pitcher Jason Alexander. The right-hander returned with a vengeance, tossing six strong innings and silencing his old club with a mix of sinkers, changeups, and cold-blooded execution. Meanwhile, JP Sears couldn’t escape the first few frames without disaster, setting the tone for a night that spiraled fast and never recovered. Cam Smith led a Houston Astros barrage, homering twice and feasting on everything the A’s staff served up. The A's bullpen didn’t offer relief—it added fuel to the fire, surrendering runs in bunches and losing command late. When a catcher has to pitch in the ninth, you know the night went sideways. The only real bright spots? A couple late runs from Gio Urshela and Austin Wynns, but by then, the crowd had already started heading for the exits. We also dig into what this loss means for the A’s psyche. The club has now dropped 15 of their last 19 and looks lifeless at home in Sacramento. Is it the park? Is it effort? Or are we witnessing a team that’s letting go of the rope? Plus, Boonie gets fired up about the lack of accountability, the front office’s decisions, and why this game should light a fire—or spark a shake-up. Don’t miss this raw, unfiltered breakdown of a team that just got punched in the mouth. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-as/ Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/ Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k Did you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required. Supply House Join the TradeMaster program today at SupplyHouse.com/TM and start ordering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies with just a few clicks. Plus, use promo code S-H-5 for 5% off your first order. That’s SupplyHouse.com! Wonderful Pistachios Get snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) x: @lockedonas #Athletics #JasonAlexander #AthleticsLoss #AstrosVsAthletics #JPSears #CamSmith #MLBHighlights #LockedOnAs #MLBRecap #BaseballPodcast #AthleticsVsAstros #AsNews #SutterHealthPark #BaseballBreakdown #ALWestBaseball #FormerAsPitcher #JasonAlexanderRevenge #AthleticsBullpen #PostgameReaction #BooneBreaksItDown

The A’s have been through hell—an 11-game losing streak, a 9-game losing streak, losing 20 of 21 games—and yet here we are: just eight games out of the Wild Card. Host Boonie isn't just keeping the faith—he’s doubling down. In this episode of Locked On A’s, Boonie revisits the segment where he dug through MLB history to highlight the most improbable playoff comebacks of all time, and now… those stories feel a little less far-fetched. The standings don’t lie, and it’s not too early to scoreboard watch. Boonie breaks down the current Wild Card landscape, identifies which teams the A’s are chasing, and looks ahead to the schedules that could determine who crumbles and who climbs.

But before we get too far ahead, let’s rewind to the one trade that may be aging like fine wine: the acquisition of lefty Jeffrey Springs from Tampa Bay. Boonie evaluates how that deal is shaping up for both sides and revisits the names involved. Have the A's finally won a trade? Has Springs become a tone-setter in this rotation? With the trade deadline approaching and whispers of roster moves getting louder, this segment sets the stage for how that deal could influence what the A’s do next.

And finally, Boonie is still fired up from Nick Kurtz’s walk-off moonshot that left the ballpark and shook the rafters—but he’s quick to point out that if the A’s don’t follow it up with a win tonight, it’s just another wasted highlight in a season full of what-ifs. Tonight is the most winnable game of the homestand. The pitching matchup favors the green and gold. The energy is there. The moment is ripe. And Boonie is here to tell you exactly why this game means everything.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-as/ Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More 🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/ x: @lockedonas #johnfisher #lasvegasas #sacramentoas #lasvegasathletics @sacramentoathletics #oaklandas #oaklandathletics #selltheteam #rootedinoakland #SB293 #SB293skinner #lasvegas #lasvegasaviators #jacobwilson #nickkurtz #brentrooker #lawrencebutler Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k Did you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required. Supply House Join the TradeMaster program today at SupplyHouse.com/TM and start ordering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies with just a few clicks. Plus, use promo code S-H-5 for 5% off your first order. That’s SupplyHouse.com! Wonderful Pistachios Get snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #Athletics #SacramentoAthletics #LasVegasAs #NickKurtz #JeffreySprings #MLBTradeDeadline #MLBPlayoffs #ALWildCard #LockedOnAs #MLBNews #BaseballPodcast #MLBStandings #A’sBaseball #MLBRecap #BaseballHighlights #MLBPowerRankings #ALWest #MLBTradeRumors #WalkOffHomeRun #MLB2025

The A’s just sent shockwaves through the AL West with a jaw-dropping 3-1 walk-off win over the first-place Houston Astros—and the hero of the night? None other than rookie phenom Nick Kurtz, who absolutely demolished a fastball into the Sacramento night for a two-run, no-doubt blast that sealed the A’s fourth straight victory. This wasn’t just a win. This was a statement. A thunderous, bat-flipping, dugout-emptying kind of statement that screamed, “We're not just rebuilding—we’re coming for the crown!”

This game had everything: electric pitching, clutch defense, and just enough tension to make your heart skip a beat. Mitch Spence and JT Ginn looked unreal, carving through Houston’s stacked lineup for 8 gritty innings before handing it off to the Mason Miller in the 9th, which slammed the door. But let’s not bury the lead—this night belonged to Nick Kurtz, the A’s first base future and present. Bottom of the ninth. no outs. Tie game. And Kurtz? He broke the tie in half. Ballgame. Bedlam. Sacramento erupts.

Four in a row. The A’s are hot, they’re hungry, and they’re not scared of anybody—not even the almighty Astros. This isn’t some lucky stretch. This is a team with swagger, chemistry, and a chip on their shoulder. Forget tanking. Forget relocation drama. The Green and Gold are writing a new chapter—and it’s must-watch baseball.

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Trade Coffee Right now, Trade is exclusively offering our customer 50% off your one-month trial at drinktrade.com/LOCKEDONMLB. OpenPhone Streamline and scale your customer communications with OpenPhone. Get 20% off your first 6 months at www.openphone.com/lockedonmlb Wonderful Pistachios Get snackin' and get crackin' with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! Supply House Join the TradeMaster program today at SupplyHouse.com/TM and start ordering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies with just a few clicks. Plus, use promo code S-H-5 for 5% off your first order. That’s SupplyHouse.com! Monarch Money Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONMLB at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #Athletics #lasvegasAthletics #sacramentoA’s #NickKurtz #WalkOffHomeRun #A’sWin #HoustonAstros #MLBHighlights #ALWest #MLBWalkOff #BaseballDrama #GreenCollarBaseball #MLB2025 #LockedOnAthletics #RootedInSacramento #BaseballPodcast #A’sVsAstros #MLBPostgame #KurtzCrushes #A’sHotStreak

On today’s Locked On A’s Postgame Show, the green and gold came into Kansas City with one mission: wreck the Royals’ weekend and leave town with a broom in hand. Mission accomplished. The A’s, fresh off snapping a 14-game road skid earlier in the series, came into Sunday riding a wave of swagger—and left with a statement 3-2 win. Lefty Jeffrey Springs went to war on the mound, working through early traffic and limiting the damage when things looked dicey. Despite giving up a two-run third—courtesy of Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino—the A’s refused to blink. Not this team. Not this time. The spark? Austin Wynns. The A’s backup catcher turned game-changer. With the game tied in the 6th, Wynns unloaded a two-run bomb to center after a Jacob Wilson single, flipping the game on its head and silencing the Kauffman crowd. And speaking of Wilson—the kid’s been scorching. His sixth-inning knock continued his tear and kept the A’s offense humming just enough to stay dangerous. The bullpen kept it tight, until... Nick Kurtz announced himself to the American League. Top of the ninth, tied at 2, and BOOM—he obliterated a ball into the fountains for his 6th homer of the season. Talk about rising to the moment. And then came Mason Miller. The phenom closer walked in from the bullpen like a gladiator and shut it down, striking out Tyler Tolbert to end it and lock up the sweep. If you’re not paying attention to the A’s yet, you’d better start now—they’re only eight games out of the Wild Card. This isn’t just a road trip. It’s a resurrection. From forgotten to fearless, the A’s are grinding, growing, and getting dangerous. We break it all down on Locked On A’s—the clutch hitting, the electric bullpen, the youth movement catching fire, and why this team might just be the most entertaining underdog in baseball. Let the league sleep on the A’s. They are wide awake. #Athletics #OaklandAthletics #LasVegasAthletics #MLB #MLBPostgame #AthleticsPostgame #KurtzHomeRun #MasonMiller #AustinWynns #JeffreySprings #JacobWilson #A’sSweepRoyals #ALWildCardRace #GreenAndGold #RootedInOakland #BaseballHighlights #MLBHighlights #LockedOnAthletics #NickKurtz #PostgameReaction #A’sWin #MLB2024 #A’sBaseball #KansasCityRoyals #RoyalsVsAthletics #AthleticsVictory #A’sOnTheRise #MillerTime #MLBDrama #BaseballSweep #MLBUnderdogStory

Jacob Lopez, who turned the mound into his personal playground. Lopez carved up Royals hitters like a Thanksgiving turkey, throwing six sparkling innings of shutout baseball, striking out nine batters, walking just one, and allowing a three hits. Lopez was so dominant, the Royals hitters looked as confused as tourists without GPS, swinging helplessly at pitches they had no shot at connecting with.

Offensively, the A’s struck early and often. Tyler Soderstrom’s sharp eye earned him a pair of crucial walks, leading to Max Muncy’s rocket of a homer in the second inning, making it a quick 2-0 lead. Luis Urías then cracked an RBI double in the fourth to keep the good times rolling. To put an exclamation point on the win, Lawrence Butler added his own fireworks, launching a line-drive homer to right-center in the seventh. That sealed the deal as the A’s head into tomorrow looking to turn two victories into a bona fide winning streak

Two rising stars. Two very different storylines. Tonight in Kansas City, all eyes were on the shortstops as the A’s opened up a three-game set against the Royals. On one side: Bobby Witt Jr., a certified MVP candidate, the heartbeat of a Royals team dreaming of October. On the other: Jacob Wilson, the A’s rookie sensation who’s been lighting up scouting reports and proving he belongs in The Show. This wasn’t just another game—it was a showcase of what the next generation of baseball looks like at one of the game’s most demanding positions. Witt Jr. showed exactly why he’s in the thick of MVP talk—he was electric on both sides of the ball. Whether it was a diving play in the hole or ripping a double into the gap, Witt looked like a player who’s not just arriving, but already here. But Jacob Wilson wasn’t content to watch the spotlight pass him by. The A’s rookie has answered with a mature at-bat here, a slick play defensively, and continues to flash the kind of instincts and poise that make you think the A’s might’ve just found their cornerstone. On the postgame show, we’ll break down how Wilson handled the challenge of going toe-to-toe with one of the game’s elite. What does his presence mean for the A’s long-term rebuild? And how close is Witt to becoming the face of the American League? Plus, we’ll dive into the rest of the night’s action, including pitching matchups, managerial moves, and where this series could be headed. Two shortstops. One stage. And one hell of a start to the weekend.

Brady Basso's journey back to the mound is more than a recovery—it's a masterclass in grit, patience, and unwavering belief. Today we are doing a deep dive into how this 27 year old lefty is clawing his way into the big leagues—and why his story is a lesson in mental toughness. That is a bit later.

Meanwhile, over in Lansing, T.J. Schofield-Sam is reminding the world why you never bet against the late bloomer. Once a 12th-round flier out of high school, he’s transformed into a Midwest League menace — barreling baseballs, getting on base by any means necessary, and quietly putting together one of the best offensive stretches in the system. He’s hitting over .350, racking up extra-base hits. He’s played everywhere on the field, done everything asked of him, and kept grinding through years of being overlooked. Now, he’s making it impossible to ignore. The bat is loud. The growth is real. And a jump to Double-A feels inevitable. We will talk about Schofield Sam right after we talk about the fire-breathing arsenal of Jack Perkins, who’s flat-out dominating Triple-A hitters with a fastball that explodes at 97 and a sweeper that disappears like a magic trick. He’s got a 0.79 ERA over his last two starts and hasn’t struck out fewer than seven batters in his last six. He’s not just close to the A’s — he’s ready. Every outing is a statement: the A’s don’t need to look elsewhere. They’ve already got their guy.

This episode is about more than numbers. It’s about what it means to believe in the grind. Jack Perkins was overlooked, doubted, injured — and he came back throwing harder, sharper, meaner. Schofield-Sam kept showing up, year after year, reshaping his game and his mindset until the results finally exploded off the stat sheet. By all accounts, Brady Basso wasn’t supposed to be here—not again. Not after the surgeries. Not after the setbacks. Well, look who is knocking on the door? These aren’t just “organizational guys.” They’re next up. And if you’re paying attention, you know the future of the A’s is already taking shape — one pitch, one swing, one earned opportunity at a time.

As the MLB trade deadline looms, teams across the league are strategizing their next moves. A surprising contender faces a tough choice: keep their breakout star or cash in for future prospects? Another team, on the cusp of playoff contention, must decide whether to go all-in for their superstar's potential final season or pivot towards rebuilding.

One powerhouse club's plans may shift dramatically due to a key player's remarkable comeback. An unexpected dark horse could emerge as a serious pennant threat if they land a top-tier starter. Meanwhile, the pressure mounts for one team's front office, as their trade decisions could determine both their postseason fate and job security.

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