BREAKING: Oakland Athletics starter is collapsing

Athletics’ southpaw Alex Wood has encountered a challenging beginning to the 2024 season. Questions arise about the reasons behind his struggles and whether he can reverse his performance. Oakland sought to bolster their pitching rotation by acquiring free agent Alex Wood during the offseason, investing $8.5 million in hopes of addressing inconsistency and elevating the team’s performance. However, thus far, Wood’s contributions have fallen short of expectations. In his five starts for the A’s, he has failed to deliver positive results, evidenced by his 7.89 ERA, second only to Patrick Corbin among qualified starters. Additionally, Wood has yet to pitch beyond the fifth inning. While his FIP stands at a more tolerable 5.40, his 10.2% walk rate is on track to be his highest career mark, and his 18.5% strikeout rate is dangerously close to his previous low of 17.2%, recorded last season.

So what’s going wrong for Alex Wood?

Analyzing the Statcast data reveals concerning patterns for Alex Wood. His velocity has declined across the board, with all three of his pitches registering 1-2 mph lower compared to his 2021-2023 averages. This drop mirrors his velocity levels from 2019, a year marked by a significant back injury that limited his playing time to just 35.2 innings.

The issue lies in the impact of altered velocity on pitch movement. Currently, Wood appears to struggle with command over his pitches, evidenced by consistent misses off the plate with his slider, frequent middle-middle placement of his sinker, and hanging his changeup over the lower middle of the plate, providing ample opportunities for batters to exploit.

Historically, batters have managed a .318 weighted on-base average (wOBA) against Wood’s changeup over the past three years. However, in 2024, they have elevated this figure to .621, accompanied by an .880 slugging percentage against the pitch.

This decline in velocity and subsequent loss of control have positioned Wood as one of the least effective starters in baseball this season. His .453 wOBA allowed ranks in the bottom third percentile league-wide, while his 20.4% chase rate places

Navigating Alex Wood’s situation presents a challenge. Despite being 33, his history of injuries leaves uncertainty regarding whether his velocity decline stems from physical deterioration or a strategic adjustment in his approach.

Assuming Wood is in good health, his priority should be regaining control over his pitches. Erratic heat maps indicate a lack of precision, a significant hurdle for effectiveness on the mound.

 

One potential solution could involve transitioning Wood to a bullpen role, leveraging his enhanced velocity in shorter, high-leverage situations. Alternatively, the team could explore a piggyback strategy with pitchers like Mitch Spence or Kyle Muller, allowing Wood to contribute 3-4 solid innings without the expectation of enduring through multiple trips through the batting order.

While Wood’s current performance is lackluster, there’s hope for improvement as the season progresses. However, the A’s might not achieve desired outcomes if they continue relying on him as a traditional starter.

 

Manager Mark Kotsay faces a tough situation with the roster dynamics. Encouraging Wood to embrace a reduced role could be met with resistance, but it’s a reasonable starting point for addressing his struggles.

him in the bottom sixth percentile. Furthermore, his 6.55 expected ERA falls within the bottom tenth percentile.

Can Alex Wood turn his season around?

Navigating Alex Wood’s situation presents a challenge. Despite being 33, his history of injuries leaves uncertainty regarding whether his velocity decline stems from physical deterioration or a strategic adjustment in his approach.

Assuming Wood is in good health, his priority should be regaining control over his pitches. Erratic heat maps indicate a lack of precision, a significant hurdle for effectiveness on the mound.

One potential solution could involve transitioning Wood to a bullpen role, leveraging his enhanced velocity in shorter, high-leverage situations. Alternatively, the team could explore a piggyback strategy with pitchers like Mitch Spence or Kyle Muller, allowing Wood to contribute 3-4 solid innings without the expectation of enduring through multiple trips through the batting order.

While Wood’s current performance is lackluster, there’s hope for improvement as the season progresses. However, the A’s might not achieve desired outcomes if they continue relying on him as a traditional starter.

Manager Mark Kotsay faces a tough situation with the roster dynamics. Encouraging Wood to embrace a reduced role could be met with resistance, but it’s a reasonable starting point for addressing his struggles.