Muller gains momentum despite rocky homecoming

ARLINGTON -- The A’s believe better days are ahead in 2023. Those within the clubhouse remain optimistic, despite a difficult start to the season.

The latest setback came on Sunday afternoon in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field, as the A’s have now lost all seven series this season and nine of their last 10 games.

“You’ve got to look at the big picture,” outfielder Tony Kemp said. “It’s 22 games in. A lot of teams go through stretches like this. Unfortunately, it’s us at the beginning, but each day is a new day, new opportunity.”

A’s starter Kyle Muller would’ve loved to get things trending in the right direction, especially starting in his hometown with 20 family and friends in attendance. Plus, the Rangers just so happened to be celebrating Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, Muller's high school alma mater.

With that setting, Muller embraced the idea of going head-to-head against Rangers ace Jacob deGrom.

“You want to face a guy like that, see how you stack up,” he said. “He’s obviously right now the greatest pitcher in the game.”

Unfortunately for Muller, the day didn’t go according to plan.

Instead, deGrom dominated and Muller couldn’t keep pace despite the fact he pitched better than he did in his previous two starts.

“Obviously we lost the game, so not the best, but definitely a step in the right direction from my last couple,” Muller said. “I need to make a better pitch with guys on base, limit that crooked-number home run. Command wasn’t the greatest, but I got my curveball working and made some pitches toward the end when I needed to.”

Muller’s biggest mistake came with two outs in the second inning. A fastball caught too much of the plate and Robbie Grossman deposited it for a three-run home run.

Muller allowed one more run in the fourth inning. For the game, he allowed four runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts over five innings.

Muller took the loss as A’s starters are now 0-11 in 22 games. It is the longest single-season streak in Athletics history without a pitcher recording a win, and matches the longest overall drought in franchise history. The 1964 Kansas City A’s finished the season with a 20-game streak without a win for the starting pitcher and also went without a win from the starter in the first two games of 1965 for a 22-game streak overall.

The Nationals set a Major League record last season when they went 43 consecutive games without a starting pitcher being credited with a ‘W.’

Again, though, the A’s aren’t getting too caught up in the ugly numbers. They understand there will be growing pains, especially with a young and inexperienced rotation.

Muller said the team is still positive about the season.

“I think going forward, we’ve played a lot of close games,” Muller said. “There’s been some that have been blowouts, but for the most part I think we’re going to be on the right end of a lot of games going forward.”

Of course, the A’s won’t be facing pitchers of deGrom’s caliber every night. The Rangers' starter was his dominant self, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts. A’s catcher Shea Langeliers took deGrom deep in the fifth for the two runs.

“[deGrom] was pretty effortless at 98-100 mph,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “His slider was really good today. It started in the right lane and got a lot of swings and misses. We had a big hit, Shea’s homer was a big hit. It got us back in the game and gave us a chance to have an opportunity to win that game, and their bullpen did a nice job.”