‘Biomechanics and data’? A’s pitcher dominates Rays to extend impressive streak
Jacob Lopez wasn’t part of the Athletics’ plans for their starting rotation when the season began, but the left-handed pitcher is making a case to become a fixture for the rest of 2025 and beyond.
“For Jacob, it’s been a little bit of a process,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said late Tuesday night in West Sacramento. “And to see the amount of success he’s having, I think we all felt that there was a chance for him to really do some things on the mound that we hadn’t seen. I think you’re seeing it firsthand now in the last four outings.”
Kotsay’s praise of Lopez followed his fourth straight start in which he didn’t allow a run, dating back to July 21.
On Tuesday, the 27-year-old tossed seven shutout innings while striking out nine with no walks, helping the A’s win the second game of their three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-0, after losing to the Rays on Monday.
“It’s unbelievable. Playing behind him is awesome,” outfielder Colby Thomas, who went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in two of the A’s runs, said of Lopez. “When he gets in there, he’s pounding the strike zone and he’s got confidence in his stuff, we’re playing right behind him, we’re ready to go.”
Lopez came in having not allowed a run in his previous three starts with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings — the longest scoreless-inning streak of his career, which he extended to 24. His performance helped the A’s improve to 54-68 for the season and 12-6 since July 24.
He increased his strikeout total for the season to 103 in 84 2/3 innings. His ability to get whiffs comes while his fastball sits just over 90 mph, well below the Major League average for left-handed pitchers.
But he steps across his body in his delivery, making his five-pitch repertoire difficult for hitters to pick up out of his hand.
Lopez is also a credit to modern scouting.
“It’s an arm slot that can be identified through biomechanics and data,” Kotsay said. “So it’s what we old school people call deception. And that’s really how I would describe it. He’s deceptive.”
Lopez struck out five of the first nine Rays he faced and faced the minimum through the first three innings. He became the first A’s pitcher since Cory Lidle in 2002 to make four straight appearances without allowing a run.
‘Extra motivation’ vs. Tampa Bay
Lopez was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 26th round of the 2018 draft. He was traded to Tampa Bay for Joe McCarthy in 2019, and then joined the A’s with fellow left-handed starter Jeffrey Springs in a trade in December.
He pitched for the Rays in 2023 and 2024, and was going against his former club for the second time this season. On June 30, he lasted just 3 1/3 innings while allowing four runs on five hits.
“It’s a little extra motivation to go up there and see some familiar faces,” Lopez said.
Lopez began the season with Triple-A Las Vegas before getting promoted to the A’s April 18. He made two relief appearances before getting sent back down. He came back to the A’s April 29 and went through a career-worst four-game losing streak. He found his groove in June, striking out 39 batters, the most by an A’s pitcher for the month since Rich Harden notched 42 strikeouts in 2008.
He’s been in the A’s rotation since and leads the team’s starters with a 3.30 ERA for the year.
No luck for Kurtz in new spot
Rookie slugger Nick Kurtz was hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career, but seems unlikely to remain there on Wednesday. He went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and ended 26-game on-base streak.
The 22-year-old came in having not hit a home run since his four-homer game on July 25. He’s hit .300 in those 14 games, but only two of his 15 hits have gone for extra bases.
The A’s and Rays play the final game of their series Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park. The A’s will throw right-hander J.T. Ginn (2-4, 4.39) against Drew Rasmussen (9-5, 2.66), Tampa Bay’s top starting pitcher this season, with a 7:05 p.m. start time.
