Which AL team would do the most with the second Wild Card?

Which AL team would give Boston the hardest time as second wild card?

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 21: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after pitching a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on April 21, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Athletics won the game 3-0. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – MAY 31: Daniel Mengden #33 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the second inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on May 31, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Oakland Athletics

The A’s could win the Wild Card game. That much is true, but they would then quickly lose a playoff series. To win the playoff game, it would take some Sean Manaea brilliance, similar to when he no-hit the Red Sox earlier this year. His WHIP below 1 shows he can do it, even if his record is 5-6. They have the 11th best offense in baseball, one that could patch together enough runs to win that game.

However, beyond Manaea, their pitching staff has 2 over-performing pitchers, a dud, and young player who is surprising everybody. Daniel Mengden and Trevor Cahill both have ERAs below 3 somehow, but then Daniel Gossett has an ERA up over 5. Lastly, there is Frankie Montas who has dazzled in 2 starts, but a career ERA over 5 doesn’t bode well.

Even if their pitchers peak at the right time, their offense is in the bottom half of the league in batting average against both lefties and righties and would likely be unable to sustain them through the playoffs. The A’s would have to work some magic to even make the playoffs anyways.

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