Lopez (7-6) yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings Tuesday, striking out eight and earning a win over the Twins.
Lopez extended his scoreless streak to 25 frames before Matt Wallner knocked an RBI double in the second inning. Brooks Lee and Ryan Jeffers later knocked solo homers in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. Despite that, Lopez earned his fourth consecutive win and racked up eight punchouts. He's produced a 27:1 K:BB over his last three outings, improving his season K:BB to 111:31. Lopez has registered a 0.60 ERA over his last five starts, dropping his season ERA from 4.60 to 3.28 in the process. He's lined up to take the mound in Seattle this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Stays hot in win
Rotowire
Lopez (6-6) allowed four hits, struck out nine batters and walked none over seven shutout innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Rays.
Lopez continues to look like the Athletics' best starter lately. Over his last four outings, he's posted a 28:6 K:BB across 24 scoreless innings in that impressive stretch. He won't keep this up forever, but his strong second half is showing serious developmental progress. He's now at a 3.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 103:30 K:BB through 84.2 innings over 19 appearances (15 starts) this season. Lopez will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is projected to be on the road in Minnesota.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Falters against Giants
Rotowire
Lopez (2-5) allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight over 4.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Giants.
Lopez had a shaky first inning and gave up a run when Willy Adames drew a bases-loaded walk. Adames added a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Lopez found more trouble in the fifth before his exit. In between, however, he was nearly untouchable, striking out seven straight batters at one point. The southpaw has allowed eight runs (seven earned) over his last two starts, covering 7.2 innings with a 9:2 K:BB in that span. He's walked precisely one batter in seven of his last nine outings, but the overall results have been fairly mixed. For the season, he has a 4.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB through 50.2 innings over 13 appearances (nine starts). Lopez is lined up to make his next start at home versus the Blue Jays.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Nine more strikeouts in no-decision
Rotowire
Lopez allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine over six innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Thursday.
Lopez earned his third quality start of the year, and he's allowed just two runs (one earned) over 16 innings across his last three appearances. He's struck out nine batters in three of his last four starts. Lopez is now at a 4.25 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 36 innings over 10 appearances (six starts) this season. The southpaw has pitched well enough to maintain a spot in the Athletics' rotation, but he's projected for a tough road matchup versus the Tigers next week.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Fans nine in win
Rotowire
Lopez (1-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings against the Royals. He struck out nine.
Lopez was spectacular as he set a new career high in strikeouts. The 27-year-old has bounced between the majors and minors, as well as between the bullpen and rotation, but he's been excellent in his past two appearances, allowing no earned runs over 10 innings while posting a 14:3 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Bounces back against Orioles
Rotowire
Lopez didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings.
Lopez allowed 12 runs and five homers across six innings over his last two appearances, but he fared much better Sunday. Lopez has flashed some elite strikeout stuff, fanning eight or more batters in two of his last four outings, though he's stumbled to a 7.20 ERA in 24 innings this season. He's tentatively scheduled to make another start next weekend at Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Rough night in Toronto
Rotowire
Lopez (0-3) took the loss Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing seven runs on six hits and a walk across 1.2 innings.
Lopez set the Jays down in order in the first inning, but it was a different story in the second when the left-hander allowed six runs, with five coming on a pair of homers. Lopez's ERA is now up to 6.32 after Thursday's outing, and he has a 1.85 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB across 15.2 innings. Lopez currently lines up for a home matchup with the Twins next week, should the A's choose to give him another shot in the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Picking up another start
Rotowire
Lopez is slated to start Thursday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
Summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas last weekend to fill the opening in the rotation created by J.T. Ginn's (quadriceps) move to the injured list, Lopez stepped in and delivered a gem in his second start of the season for the Athletics. Though he ended up taking a loss, he limited the Phillies to one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings. The stellar performance will earn him at least one more start, and if Lopez can deliver another positive outing Thursday, he'll likely have a strong case for sticking around in the rotation over the struggling Gunnar Hoglund (5.13 ERA, 1.41 WHIP through five starts) once Ginn is back from the IL.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Recalled from Las Vegas
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Lopez from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Lopez is expected to start Friday against the Phillies, as J.T. Ginn (quadriceps) recently landed on the 15-day injured list. Lopez made a spot start against the Rangers back on April 29, allowing three earned runs on six hits and four walks across 2.2 innings of work. He struck out four and took the loss. Lopez could make multiple starts for the Athletics while Ginn is sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Labors in loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Lopez (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Rangers after allowing three runs on six hits and four walks in 2.2 innings. He struck out four.
Although Lopez was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the first inning during his first start of the season, he was already up to 37 pitches after one frame. He also allowed a leadoff baserunner in each of his three innings of work Tuesday. The left-hander has a 3.86 ERA over seven innings so far, but his 9:7 K:BB and 2.57 WHIP are major causes for concern. It remains to be seen if Lopez will get another chance to start for the Athletics in the absence of J.T. Ginn (elbow), but the former's next appearance tentatively lines up for this weekend in a soft matchup against Miami.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Slated to start Tuesday
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Lopez will start Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Jessica Kleinschmidt of Baseball America reports.
Lopez has worked out of the bullpen in all three of his appearances with the Athletics and hasn't recorded more than five outs on any occasion, but he had been getting stretched out as a starter at Triple-A Las Vegas before being recalled Saturday. The lefty covered five innings in both of his most recent two appearances and delivered his best outing yet prior to his promotion, striking out 10 batters and allowing no runs on four hits and two walks in an April 12 contest. Lopez could end up getting multiple turns through the big-league rotation while J.T. Ginn (elbow) is on the shelf.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Back in majors
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Lopez from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Just three days after being sent to Triple-A, Lopez will return to the big club Saturday to replace J.T. Ginn (elbow) on the active roster. The 27-year-old Lopez has punched out five batters and walked three over 4.1 shutout innings in the majors this season and will likely return to a middle-relief role.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Headed west after swap
Rotowire
The Rays traded Lopez and Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick.
Lopez appeared in four games for the Rays last season, giving up six earned runs while striking out eight batters and walking seven across 10.1 innings. His performance improved slightly in Triple-A (4.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP over 88.2 innings), and his chances of making the Athletics' Opening Day bullpen will likely depend on how well he does during spring training.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Holds Dodgers to one run
Rotowire
Lopez came away with a no-decision Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings.
Lopez impressed in a road spot start against one of baseball's best lineups, limiting the Dodgers to a lot of weak contact and generating a fair share of whiffs with his slider. He blanked the home squad through four innings before Enrique Hernandez took him deep in the fifth for the game's first run, but the Rays were able to take Lopez off the hook for the loss. The southpaw presumably will be optioned back to Triple-A Durham with Erasmo Ramirez set to be called up Monday, but Lopez could see another stint in the majors over the final month if an injury opens up a role for him.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Back in minors
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Lopez to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Lopez threw a scoreless inning during his first MLB appearance of the season Friday, but he'll now return to the minors just two days after being recalled from Triple-A. Erasmo Ramirez was selected from Durham to take Lopez's spot in the Rays' bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Summoned to big leagues
Rotowire
Tampa Bay recalled Lopez from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Lopez has been starting at Durham, posting a 7.59 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The Rays need him for relief help, though, as the left-hander will offer them some potential length in the bullpen for Thursday's series finale versus the Angels.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Lopez to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lopez had been listed as a possible rotation candidate with Taj Bradley (pectoral) out, but he'll head back to Durham for now. The left-hander permitted three runs with a 7:6 K:BB across 6.1 innings of work during Grapefruit League play.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Candidate for final rotation spot
Rotowire
Lopez is a candidate to open the year as the Rays' No. 5 starter due to Taj Bradley (pectoral) being ruled out for the start of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Naoyuki Uwasawa, Jacob Waguespack, Tyler Alexander and Chris Devenski were also mentioned as potential replacements. The lefty Lopez operated as a starter at Triple-A Durham last season, posting a 2.72 ERA and 87:47 K:BB over 18 starts (79.1 innings) to earn his first MLB looks over the final six weeks. He has allowed one hit and five walks in 3.1 innings so far this spring.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Surrenders six runs in spot start
Rotowire
Lopez (1-0) got the win Sunday over the Blue Jays but allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings.
Lopez threw an easy 1-2-3 first inning but put two runners on to begin the second and gave up a two-run triple to Tyler Heineman before allowing him to score on a wild pitch. He kept the Blue Jays off the board for the next three innings but could not escape trouble in the sixth and wound up giving up three more runs before being pulled. Sunday was his longest major-league outing this year but was also his worst showing. He posted solid minor-league numbers in 2023, but he was essentially an emergency option for the big club down the stretch.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Lopez: Starting Sunday
Rotowire
Lopez is expected to start Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It was originally thought Lopez would work as a bulk reliever, but it sounds like he will instead work as a traditional starter. He has a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and four strikeouts in seven innings across three MLB appearances and logged a 3.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings across his four most recent appearances at Triple-A.
