The Oakland Athletics do not have the same kind of marketable superstars as some of the other teams in the American League West, but they continue to win all the same.
With about a month left in the regular season, the Athletics are in a dogfight in the AL Wild Card race, sitting just a game up on the Cleveland Indians for the second spot. However, reinforcements appear to be on the way.
Outfielder Ramon Laureano has not played in over a month due to a stress reaction in his shin, but Oakland manager Bob Melvin told reporters — including Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle — that Laureano is likely to be activated at some point during the team's upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers:
“Our timetable has always been the Detroit series, so I think we’re going to stick pretty disciplined with that,” Melvin said. “I know he’s eager to play; he was eager to play a week ago. But there are reasons we’re doing this. We want to make sure he’s healthy. If all goes well in the next couple of days, I think it will be sometime during the Detroit series.”
Laureano was having a fantastic season at the plate prior to the injury, slashing .284/.334/.518 with 21 homers. Despite being a below-average outfielder in terms of advanced metrics, Laureano has also showcased an absurdly strong throwing arm and a knack for making highlight-reel plays in center.
Oakland has continued to win with Mark Canha in the lineup after Canha had a huge month of August, but Laureano gives the Athletics yet another run producer entering the final month of play.
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