Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Allows five hits and walks five
Rotowire
Lopez (0-1) took the loss Monday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and five walks without recording a strikeout across four innings.
Lopez generated just four whiffs on 91 pitches, and his fastball velocity was down 1.4 mph from his 2025 average of 90.8 mph. The 28-year-old started 17 games for the Athletics last season and turned in a respectable 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 113:37 K:BB across 92.2 innings. His stuff will need to improve moving forward if he's going to build on that in 2026. Lopez's next start is scheduled for Sunday at home against the Astros.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Stellar in spring start
Rotowire
Lopez allowed no hits and a walk across four scoreless innings in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Royals. He struck out seven.
After allowing a leadoff walk to Nick Loftin, Lopez proceeded to retire every other batter he faced, striking out over half of them. He was brought along slowly to open the spring after he closed the 2025 season on the injured list due to an elbow strain, but the southpaw looked fully healthy Saturday. Lopez is expected to open 2026 with a spot in the big-league rotation, as the 28-year-old looks to build on a season in which he posted a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 113:37 K:BB across 21 appearances (17 starts) and 92.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Making spring debut Sunday
Rotowire
Lopez (elbow) is scheduled to start Sunday's Cactus League game against the Angels.
The left-hander built up slowly early in camp after finishing 2025 on the injured list due to an elbow strain, and he's now ready to make his Cactus League debut this weekend. Lopez received his first extended look in the majors last season and was a decent rotation piece for the A's with a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 113:37 K:BB across 92.2 innings. The 27-year-old is expected to open the campaign as a member of the starting rotation.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Tosses side session Monday
Rotowire
Lopez (elbow) completed a bullpen session Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Lopez missed the final month and change of the 2025 season due to a left elbow flexor strain, but he appears to have had a normal offseason and doesn't seem to be facing any restrictions in the early stages of camp. The 27-year-old lefty should be guaranteed a rotation spot heading into 2026 after he was one of the few bright spots for a wretched Athletics pitching staff last season with a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 19.0 K-BB% over 92.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Lopez on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left elbow flexor strain.
Lopez's strained elbow played a factor in his performance in a loss to the Mariners on Sunday, when he surrendered nine earned runs in just two innings. The Athletics will shut down for a period of time before he's cleared to start a throwing program, though the team is optimistic that the 27-year-old southpaw will make it back before the end of the season, likely as a reliever. Mason Barnett was selected from Triple-A Las Vegas to take Lopez's place on the active roster, but the team hasn't yet announced who will replace Lopez in the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Dealing with forearm tightness
Rotowire
Lopez experienced forearm tightness during his start in Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Mariners, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Lopez was lit up for nine earned runs on six hits and six walks while striking out two batters across two-plus innings before being removed from the contest after tossing just 65 pitches. The left-hander had given up 10 total runs (nine earned) over his last seven starts prior to Sunday's contest, so the forearm injury provides an explanation behind his immense struggles in Seattle. Manager Mark Kotsay said that Lopez will be re-evaluated Monday, but considering the early diagnosis along with the fact that the southpaw previously required Tommy John surgery in 2021, the 27-year-old is most likely headed to the injured list.
... 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.
