Jeff McNeil
Breakdown
Performance
NewsPowered by
Powered by
July 12, 2026
Sitting against lefty
McNeil is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Analysis
McNeil was included in the lineup for the first two games of the series while the Athletics faced a right-handed starter and right-handed primary pitcher, going 0-for-5 between those contests to bring his average down to .226. With Nick Kurtz (thumb) and Zack Gelof (knee) recently heading to the injured list, the left-handed-hitting McNeil looks like he might still have a path to regular playing time against righties. However, McNeil will take a seat Sunday while southpaw Noah Schultz takes the hill for Chicago.
July 8, 2026
Playing time trending down
McNeil is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Analysis
The left-handed-hitting McNeil has now sat in three straight games, including two matchups versus right-handed pitchers. The 34-year-old has struggled to a .227/.297/.305 batting line on the season, with his .597 OPS representing a career-low mark by 82 points. The Athletics' patience with McNeil may be wearing thin, especially while rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has made a case for steady playing time by producing a 1.058 OPS through seven games since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week. Kuroda-Grauer will receive the nod at second base Wednesday and could continue to play ahead of McNeil while he's wielding a hot bat.
