The Oakland Athletics, fresh off a satisfying series win against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, are heading to Pittsburgh for their last road series of the 2025 season against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The A's displayed resilience and a "no quit" attitude in Boston, a characteristic they've shown frequently over the last two months, racking up a 31-24 record since the break.
Kurtz's Fan Club Makes its Presence Known
The series in Boston also saw the presence of the Nick Kurtz fan club, equipped with props, costumes, and posters. They even had the opportunity to meet and take pictures with the A's first baseman, who seemed amused by the spectacle. Kurtz gave his fans something to cheer about, going 1-for-3 with a walk and scoring twice in the A's 5-3 victory.
Rooker Reaches Milestone
Brent Rooker picked up his 30th home run, marking his third consecutive season achieving this feat. As a leader in the clubhouse, he is on track to play all 162 games, potentially becoming the only American League player to do so. This is a significant achievement for the A's organization.
Pirates Look to Break Skid
The A's arrive at PNC Park to face the Pirates, who are currently on a six-game home losing streak and eager to break it. Luis Severino will make his final road start against Mitch Keller for the Pirates. Both pitchers have six wins on the season and similar ERAs (Severino: 4.82 ERA, Keller: 4.13). Severino has performed better on the road this season, with a 3.11 ERA in 13 starts compared to his 6.51 ERA in 14 home outings.
Bart Sits for Pirates
Joey Bart is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics. Bart had started three of the past four games and homered in Wednesday's game, but he'll get a breather. Henry Davis is catching and batting ninth.
Despite neither team heading towards the postseason, they find themselves in vastly different situations. Will the A's continue their winning ways on the road, or will the Pirates end their home skid?