Enigma Athletics developing offensive core, lack pitching depth

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Facing the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn carried a no-hitter and one-run lead into the ninth inning. Following a leadoff single by Adam Frazier and Zach Neto's 413-foot, walk-off home run, the Athletics' starter suffered a gut punch.

Not only did Ginn (2-2) lose his no-hit bid, but he also suffered a 2-1 loss at Angel Stadium, despite striking 10 batters. The Angels snapped a six-game losing streak.

The Athletics remain an MLB enigma.

The vaga-bound franchise's new stadium in Las Vegas will not be completed until 2028. Perhaps by then, general manager David Frost will acquire pitching depth to match the team's young offensive core.

Through the first quarter of the season, the Athletics (23-24) entered Tuesday on a three-game losing streak, but paced the AL West division by a half-game over the Texas Rangers.

Pitching-needy Athletics cling to division lead

The rebuild has been accelerated by catcher Shea Langeliers emerging as one of the best catchers in the league and first baseman Nick Kurtz continuing his two-season power surge.

Few major league insiders expected the Athletics to make a serious run at a division title. But that was before Langeliers, who entered Tuesday with a .335 batting average, and Kurtz, the team leader with 29 RBI, fueled the club through a competitive April.

What will they look like in June?

Will they still be an enigma?

To help keep the Athletics, who remain in a rebuilding phase, in front of a weak division, Frost may need to engineer a minor deal or two for pitching depth.

Any major deal likely will remain on hold until they're settled in Sin City.