Bleday went 4-for-6 with a two-run homer, a double, six RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.
Bleday homered amidst a second consecutive four-hit effort since he was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday. He's now gone 8-for-11 with two doubles, two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored since being back with the big club. The outfield remains a bit crowded in Sacramento, but as long as Bleday is swinging a hot bat, he should continue to get opportunities at the plate.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Perfect at the plate during loss
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Bleday went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and three runs scored in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Bleday delivered one of his best games of the season, capping off a perfect day at the plate with a solo shot off Kyle Nelson in the ninth inning. The 27-year-old outfielder had his first four-hit effort since August 2024, but despite the standout performance, Bleday has struggled at the dish this season, slashing just .206/.298/.388 through 64 games. Sunday's outburst could be a step toward turning things around as the second half unfolds.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Back with Athletics
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The Athletics recalled Bleday from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
With Miguel Andujar dealt to the Reds on Thursday, Bleday will rejoin the big club. Bleday has struggled at the plate with the Athletics this season, slashing .191/.288/.358 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, one stolen base and a 28:57 BB:K across 233 plate appearances.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Sent back to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Bleday to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Bleday was swapped off the 26-man active roster with another outfielder in Colby Thomas, who was called up from Triple-A and could settle into the short side of a platoon at a corner spot with either Tyler Soderstrom or Lawrence Butler while also offering depth in center behind Denzel Clarke. Though he was up with the Athletics for nearly a month during his latest stint in the big leagues, Bleday started in just nine of 26 games and slashed .135/.273/.324 with a 36.4 percent strikeout rate.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Idle Wednesday
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Bleday isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
After going 1-for-7 with a walk through the first two games of the series, Bleday will grab a seat on the bench to begin Wednesday's contest. His absence will allow Seth Brown to start in center field and bat eighth.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Sitting versus righty
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Bleday has a .184/.259/.490 slash line with three doubles and four homers through 13 games in May, and he'll take a seat Sunday for the second time in the Athletics' past four contests. Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker will start from left to right in the outfield while Shea Langeliers receives a turn at designated hitter against San Francisco righty Justin Verlander.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Absent from lineup against lefty
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in Texas.
It's a day off for the left-handed-hitting Bleday as the Rangers send southpaw Patrick Corbin to the bump. Max Schuemann will start in center field and hit ninth for the Athletics.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Receiving first day off
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The 27-year-old outfielder will get his first day off of the season in Sunday's series finale, paving the way for Seth Brown to pick up a start in center. Bleday has delivered disappointing returns through the Athletics' first 15 games, batting .208 with one home run, one steal, nine runs and six RBI.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Breaks out of slump
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Bleday went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Padres.
Bleday broke out of a slump as he was hitting just .175 (7-for-40) with one extra-base hit in 11 games before Tuesday. He's showing good plate discipline with an 8:9 BB:K so this could be the start of a turnaround.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Having solid spring
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Bleday is hitting .304 (7-for-23) with two home runs in nine games this spring. He's set to return as the everyday starter in center field, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Bleday's performance both at the major- and minor-league levels never really matched up to the pedigree of a No. 4 overall pick. He made some real strides last year, however, in his first full major-league season by hitting .243/.324/.437 with 20 home runs. He also improved against left-handed pitching by posting a .714 OPS against southpaws, which should keep him in the everyday lineup.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Out against left-hander
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cubs.
The Cubs are sending lefty Justin Steele to the hill, so the left-handed-hitting Bleday will begin the game on the bench. Daz Cameron will get a start in center field for the Athletics.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Multi-hit effort Friday
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Bleday went 2-for-4 with a double in a win over the White Sox on Friday.
Bleday extended a modest hitting streak to four games with the productive night, one that also featured his third double in that span. The slugging outfielder has been in an atypical power drought -- he hasn't left the yard in the last 13 games -- but his current modest surge in production and the fact he's starting to get good wood on the ball again could be the harbinger of another resurgence. Bleday has demonstrated impressive pop in his breakout campaign, knocking exactly half of his 130 hits for extra bases, including a career-high 20 home runs.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Bleday will sit Sunday after a run of eight straight starts, during which he went 11-for-35 (.314 average) with three doubles and three home runs. Daz Cameron will shift to center field and Seth Brown will move to left, opening up first base for Tyler Nevin.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Belts 18th homer Saturday
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Bleday went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Bleday launched a 408-foot shot to right center in the first inning off Colin Rea to give the Athletics a quick start they weren't able to sustain. The slugging outfielder is on quite a power surge over the last two weeks, smacking five homers across 49 plate appearances, including three in his last five games.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Absent versus lefty
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rays, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Southpaw Jeffrey Springs will take the hill for the Rays, so the left-handed-hitting Bleday will begin the contest on the bench. Daz Cameron will draw the start in center field for the Athletics.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Lifts 17th homer Wednesday
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Bleday went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to the Rays on Wednesday.
The slugging outfielder opened the scoring with a 373-foot solo shot to right field, his fourth homer in the last nine games. Bleday has had two hitless games during that span, but a pair of three-hit efforts in the same sample and the quartet of round trippers has helped him to a .303 average and 1.092 OPS across 40 plate appearances.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Homers late in win
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Bleday went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Giants.
Bleday entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth and came through with a solo blast to right in the eighth to extend the Oakland lead. It was just his second home run in July and his first RBI in just over a week, as he's struggled to get going at the dish for most of the month. The 2019 first-round pick is slashing .236/.316/.437 with 13 homers, 37 RBI, 48 runs, zero stolen bases and a 44:80 BB:K in 428 plate appearances. He's also tied for second in the American League with 30 doubles for the year.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Idle against lefty
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels.
Bleday will get the night off Saturday with the Angels putting southpaw Tyler Anderson on the bump. Bleday is slashing .233/.314/.430 with 12 home runs in 422 plate appearances this season.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Getting breather against LHP
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Bleday isn't in Oakland's lineup Thursday against the Angels.
With southpaw Kenny Rosenberg slated to start Thursday's game for the Halos, the left-handed bat of Bleday will stay put in Oakland's dugout. Daz Cameron will fill the void in center field and bat seventh.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Three hits in win
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Bleday went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in Monday's 4-0 win over the Astros.
Bleday has at least one double in five straight games, with his two-bagger Monday plating the Athletics' third run. The outfielder is 10-for-21 over those five games after opening July in a 3-for-38 rut. Overall, Bleday is at a .238/.319/.438 slash line with 12 homers, 29 doubles, four triples, 36 RBI and 44 runs scored over 100 contests.