Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Taking seat against southpaw
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Butler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
With lefty Parker Messick on the bump for Cleveland, the left-handed-hitting Butler will retreat to the bench for the series finale. Zack Gelof will replace Butler in center field and will bat fifth.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Blasts homer in win
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Butler went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Royals.
Butler got a day off Tuesday amid a 1-for-14 skid at the plate. The outfielder bounced back with a fourth-inning blast Wednesday, which ended up being all the offense the Athletics needed to get this win. He's still batting just .187 with a .568 OPS, three homers, 12 RBI, nine runs scored, two doubles and four stolen bases on six attempts over 28 contests this season. Butler's struggles at the plate have kept him in a strong-side platoon role. He probably won't challenge for many at-bats against southpaws, but his playing time against right-handers appears to be safe for now.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Resting Tuesday
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Butler isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.
Butler will get a day to regroup Tuesday after going just 1-for-14 at the plate with two walks and six strikeouts across his last four starts. His absence will allow Colby Thomas to pick up a start in right field while batting fifth.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes: Taking seat Sunday
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Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Cortes and fellow left-handed hitters Jeff McNeil and Lawrence Butler will hit the bench for the series finale while southpaw Noah Schultz takes the hill for the White Sox. Since Brent Rooker (oblique) landed on the injured list April 10, Cortes has gained a foothold in the Athletics' regular lineup versus right-handed pitching while shuffling between the corner-outfield spots and designated hitter.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Swipes two bags Saturday
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Butler went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, two walks, two stolen bases and one run scored in Saturday's 7-6 extra-innings win over the White Sox.
Butler tried to turn a leadoff double into a triple in the bottom of the eighth inning but was thrown out at third base. His two stolen bases were his second and third thefts of the season. It's been a slow start to the 2026 campaign for Butler, who is slashing just .197/.274/.318 with four extra-base hits -- including a pair of homers -- seven RBI, eight runs scored, three steals and a 7:18 BB:K across 73 plate appearances.
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Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Not starting Saturday
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Clarke is not in the Athletics' starting lineup against the White Sox on Saturday.
Clarke is out of the A's starting lineup for the second time in three games as the team deploys Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler and Carlos Cortes in the outfield from left to right against Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. In his last 15 games, Clarke has gone 7-for-38 (.184) with one steal, five RBI and a 2:15 K:BB.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Drives homer in loss
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Butler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's loss against the Rangers.
Butler accounted for his team's lone run with a solo homer in the eighth inning of a lopsided loss. It's been a disappointing start to the season offensively for the Athletics, including the 25-year-old outfielder, who owns a .575 OPS with three extra-base hits and six RBI through 15 appearances. Butler is looking to produce closer to his 2024 form, when he posted an .807 OPS in 125 games, rather than his .710 mark in 152 contests from 2025, and Monday's homer could serve as a potential spark to get on track.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sitting against left-hander
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Butler is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Atlanta.
Atlanta is sending left-hander Chris Sale to the mound, and this marks the second time in three games versus southpaws this season that the lefty-swinging Butler is out of the lineup. Brent Rooker is getting a start in right field and Shea Langeliers will be the designated hitter for the Athletics.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Back in lineup Monday
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Butler is starting in center field and batting sixth for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Butler made a defensive miscue in the outfield on Opening Day and went 0-for-3 at the plate. He then was omitted from the starting lineup in each of the final two contests against the Blue Jays, but Butler is back in there for a homecoming game in Atlanta.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sitting again Sunday
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Butler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
The 25-year-old went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Opening Day and made a defensive miscue after shifting from right field to center that led to an Andres Gimenez triple, and Butler now finds himself on the bench for a second consecutive contest. He sat against Toronto righty Dylan Cease on Saturday, but it's lefty Eric Lauer on the bump for the home team Sunday. Denzel Clarke is back in center Sunday while Brent Rooker starts in right field, allowing catcher Shea Langeliers to receive some rest as the designated hitter.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Idle Saturday
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Butler is not in the Athletics' starting lineup against the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Butler will open Saturday's game in the dugout while the Athletics roll with Tyler Soderstrom, Denzel Clarke and Carlos Cortes in the outfield from left to right. Butler went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Friday's 3-2 loss to Toronto, and he should continue to have scheduled rest days while recovering from offseason surgery on both of his knees.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Starting in right field Friday
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Butler (knees) will lead off and play right field for Friday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Butler made his spring debut Tuesday but was limited to DH duties. Now, he's been cleared to play the field. The 25-year-old had been recovering from surgery on his left knee and tendinitis in his right knee. While he may have some rust to shake off, Butler looks to be a full-go ahead of Opening Day.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Making spring debut at DH
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Butler (knees) is batting third as the designated hitter in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
It's the first game action of spring training for Butler, who was brought along slowly early in camp after he underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in October while also receiving a PRP injection for tendinitis in his left knee around the same time. The 25-year-old is expected to play the outfield later this week, assuming there's no issues in his first spring action as a DH.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Eyeing Tuesday for spring debut
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The Athletics are planning on having Butler (knees) make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler's spring debut has been delayed after he underwent surgery on his right knee in October to repair a torn patellar tendon, as well as receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee. Though the 25-year-old has been able to stay on top of his hitting progression, he's needed more time to complete a running program and take part in full defensive drills. Butler appeared to be running the bases at full speed during his workout Sunday, so the outfielder may have cleared the final hurdle in his long recovery process. Since he's already been able to get plenty of competitive at-bats in through live batting practice sessions and simulated games, Butler may need to play just a couple of Cactus League games to prove that he's ready to go for Opening Day.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Progressing toward spring debut
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Butler (knee) has yet to appear in Cactus League action but has seen extensive reps in live batting practice, simulated games and minor-league spring training games. The Athletics are targeting a debut for next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler has been eased into action this spring after undergoing surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee last October and receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee. Gallegos reports that the outfielder isn't far behind in his preparation for the regular season, as Athletics manager Mark Kotsay estimates Butler has had more at-bats than anyone in the organization through extensive behind-the-scenes reps. The 25-year-old played in a minor-league spring training game Tuesday, allowing him to see live pitching in a game setting without needing to run at full speed, which appears to be the final hurdle before he appears in Cactus League play. "I want to play really bad," Butler said. "It's a process. I have to trust the process. Trust the training staff, all the strength coaches helping me get back to where I want to be. I've been taking a lot of live at-bats... I'm still working every day just trying to get better and get back to myself."
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Spring debut will be delayed
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Butler will be held out of Cactus League action until mid-spring as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler underwent surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee last October and was also given a platelet-rich plasma injection to address tendinitis in his left knee. He is in the final stages of his rehab and is fully expected to be ready to go on Opening Day, but the Athletics will ease him into game action this spring. Butler posted a disappointing .234/.306/.404 batting line in 2025 while playing through knee problems for a chunk of the season.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Undergoes patellar tendon surgery
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Butler underwent surgery Friday to repair a tear in his right patellar tendon.
Butler also had a debridement of chronic scar tissue in his right knee and received a platelet-rich plasma injection to combat chronic tendinitis in his left patellar tendon. The expectation is that he will be ready to go for spring training. Butler played through knee issues down the stretch of the 2025 season, but the hope is that the procedures performed Friday will allow him to put his knee problems behind him. The 25-year-old slashed .234/.306/.404 with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases over 152 games this season.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Could require knee surgery
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Butler will meet with a doctor to determine whether surgery is required to repair a patellar tendon strain in his right knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Butler played through the injury for the last couple weeks of the regular season. If he does need surgery on the knee, it's unclear at this juncture how long his rehab would take. Butler finished the 2025 campaign having slashed .234/.306/.404 with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases over 152 contests.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Sitting against southpaw
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Butler is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
The 25-year-old outfielder doesn't always hit the bench against left-handed starting pitchers, but he'll do so Sunday with Nick Lodolo taking the mound for Cincinnati. Butler has a .584 OPS in 111 plate appearances versus southpaws this season, but he's been productive overall through 10 games in September with a .361/.439/.528 slash line.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Idle against lefty
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Butler is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
For the fifth consecutive game, the Athletics are facing off against a left-handed starter (Payton Tolle), and though the left-handed-hitting Butler started in three of the previous four contests, he'll take a seat Wednesday. Colby Thomas will cover center field in Butler's stead and will bat cleanup.
