MLB playoff race heats up as underdogs challenge favorites. Are the Dodgers and Astros locks for October, or could surprising contenders like the Rangers and Pirates shake things up?

Jeff Carr and the Locked On MLB Squad analyze current playoff positions, potential fallers, and intriguing statistics. The hosts debate the Twins' chances, the Mariners' struggles, and the impact of the expanded wild card on smaller market teams. Baltimore's pitching woes and the Rockies' historically bad start take center stage, while Cleveland's no-hitter drought raises eyebrows.

Discover which teams might defy expectations and make a late-season push. Will the Cardinals find their October magic once again?

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They’ve lost 17 of 18. The bats have gone silent, the bullpen’s been a mess, and the energy has flatlined. But let’s pump the brakes on the funeral procession, because this season? It’s far from over. We’re only 60 games in. That’s 102 left to play. One hot streak, one spark, one turnaround—and suddenly the vibe changes. Baseball seasons aren’t won or lost in May. This is a marathon, and the A’s aren’t out of the race just because they stumbled through one ugly mile.

On today’s episode of Locked On A’s, we’re flipping the script. We’re talking about why there’s still reason to believe. Why there’s still fight left in this roster. Why this brutal stretch might just be the gut-check moment that wakes up a young team still finding its identity. If you’ve already given up, this podcast isn’t for you. But if you’ve got even a flicker of hope left—just enough to believe in a comeback—then buckle up. The ride’s just getting started.

Is winning the World Series the only measure of success for the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers or really any team? This episode challenges that notion, exploring the idea that a "perfect season" in MLB might be more about providing fans with an exciting summer.

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Coming off an absolute gut punch of an 11-1 beatdown in Houston, the A’s are staring down a major gut-check moment today After getting steamrolled by a lineup that looked like it was playing tee-ball, the A’s have a shot to punch back, split the series, and remind the Astros—and the rest of the league—that they’re not rolling over for anybody. Last night was ugly, no doubt. But baseball doesn’t give you time to sulk. It gives you 24 hours to get pissed off, regroup, and come back swinging. This is the kind of moment where you find out what kind of fight this team has. It’s easy to look sharp when you're winning—harder when you’re staring down one of the best lineups in baseball and trying to salvage a little pride in their house. The A’s need a response, not just to get back in the win column, but to make a statement: this rebuild isn’t soft, and this clubhouse isn’t here to be anybody’s punching bag. Let’s see if they’ve got that dog in them tonight.

After finally snapping an 11-game losing streak on Sunday, the A’s had a chance to build something—anything—against the Astros on Tuesday. Instead, they got bulldozed 11-1 in a game that looked like a carbon copy of the previous two weeks. So the question has to be asked: has anything actually changed? Or did Sunday’s win just give this team—and maybe even us—a false sense of hope? Because from the looks of it, the losing streak may be over, but the losing mentality is still alive and well.

And then there’s Mark Kotsay. His postgame comments after Sunday’s win were meant to sound confident, but they raised more red flags than reassurance. Is he the right guy to lead this clubhouse? Is there too much acceptance of mediocrity within the organization? Maybe it’s time to stop pretending this is a sleeping giant and start considering the possibility that the A’s just aren’t that good. Are the expectations wrong? Or are we just refusing to accept the reality staring us in the face? Let’s dig into all of that today on Locked on A’s.

The streak is over, baby! After 11 straight gut-punch losses, the A’s finally punched back—and did it with some serious style. On a sunny Sunday in Philly, the green and gold pulled off a heart-thumping 5-4 win over one of the best teams in baseball, and the heroes of the day weren’t household names—they were fresh faces: Logan Davidson laced key hits, Willie MacIver called a brilliant game behind the plate and came through offensively, and Denzel Clarke? That dude looked like a walking highlight reel. This wasn’t just a win; this was a message. The kids are here, and they’re not just filling roster spots—they’re changing the tone.

Now the question shifts from “When will the bleeding stop?” to “How do we build on this?” Because let’s be real: the AL Wild Card isn’t locked down yet. There’s room for a late charge if the A’s can stack some momentum behind this breakthrough. The schedule lightens up, reinforcements could be coming, and if the energy these call-ups brought can ripple through the clubhouse, don’t be surprised if the A's starts climbing. We’re breaking it all down—how this team turns one electric win into a much-needed run—and why this might’ve been the turning point in a season that’s far from over.

Ten straight gut punches. That’s what this losing streak feels like. Not just for the players, but for every fan who bleeds green and gold. Ten games without a win is more than a slump—it’s a test. A test of heart, of resilience, of whether this team is just a group of guys wearing the same uniform or something more. Because fighting as individuals? That’s what losing teams do. One guy can rake, another can shove, but if it’s not connected—if there’s no trust, no fire, no unity—then it all falls apart. That’s what we’re seeing. A team full of effort, but short on cohesion. The weight of each loss doesn’t just sit on the scoreboard—it’s in the eyes, in the body language, in the silence of the dugout when it should be loud.

But here's the thing about rock bottom—it forces clarity. The message couldn’t be clearer: you can’t win trying to be the hero on your own. The A’s need to stop playing like it’s every man for himself. They need to fight together. Back up the pitcher who gave up three early. Pick up the bat after a strikeout and make the next play matter. Rally in the dugout when things look bleak. Because when you fight as a team, losses start to sting differently—they become fuel. This stretch? It’s either the beginning of the collapse, or the moment they lock arms and say enough is enough. One spark can change everything. But they’ve got to light it together.

The A’s have hit rock bottom—again. Nine straight losses, morale in the gutter, and a non-existent fanbase. This team can’t hit with runners on, the bullpen’s coughing up leads like it’s a charity drive, and the rotation’s barely holding together with duct tape. But in the middle of all this mess, a glimmer of hope just kicked down the door: Denzel Clarke. The A’s finally called up their top outfield prospect, the freak athlete with 70-grade speed, raw power, and the kind of upside that makes scouts drool. It’s the kind of move that signals—not a rebuild reset—but a potential reboot of energy, identity, and purpose. So what now? This episode, we break down how Clarke changes the dynamic immediately and what the A’s need to do to stop the bleeding. Do we ride the youth movement full throttle and start moving vets? Is this the spark that finally lights a fire under the clubhouse? Or are we just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? Either way, it’s time for Mark Kotsay and David Forst to pick a direction. Because nine losses in a row ain’t bad luck anymore—it’s a statement. And this front office better start answering back.