JP

Sears

Sears gave up four hits, walked three and struck out four. He pitched well, but allowed solo home runs to Mitch Garver and Cal Raleigh. Sears finishes the season 11-13 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings. The 11 wins were a big improvement after Sears won just five of 32 starts in 2023.

All of the runs came in the first three innings. Sears is 0-4 with a 6.49 ERA against his former team since the A’s picked him up in the Frankie Montas deal two years ago. Overall this year, he’s 11-12 while having allowed 91 runs in 174 2/3 innings. Last year, he finished 5-14 while giving up 90 runs in 172 1/3 innings. He’ll take on the Mariners in his final scheduled start.

Sears gave up three of those runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer to Gavin Sheets. The 28-year-old southpaw gave up another homer to Bryan Ramos in a middling — but not abhorrent — effort from Sears. There have been a lot of these types of starts from him in 2024, but it’s a little disappointing considering the lineup he was facing. He shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups for Saturday against the Yankees.

Sears was excellent against a tough Astros lineup, holding them scoreless across six innings of work. He scattered four hits and two walks, striking out just one batter. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 4.18 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 123/43 K/BB ratio across 163 2/3 innings into a start against the White Sox in Chicago on Sunday.

Sears hit a batter and issued a walk to put two runners on in the second inning before Mitch Garver doubled to bring both runners in to score. Seattle brought three more runs in to score on four hits in the fourth. Sears gave the A’s two more innings of work before exiting after six. The 28-year-old left-hander will take a 4.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 122/41 K/BB ratio across 157 2/3 innings into a start against the Astros in Houston on Tuesday.

Gray’s velocity was down 1-1.5 mph across the board tonight, but the Rangers couldn’t take advantage. Nathaniel Lowe’s homer in the second proved to be the only damage versus Sears. He’s completed seven innings in five of six starts, and he has a pretty good chance of making it six of seven with the Mariners next on the schedule.

Sears was hurt by his defense, but most of the damage was his own doing. He allowed nine hits in the ineffective outing with one walk and three strikeouts. The left-hander pitched into the eighth inning in his last start and went seven frames the start before. He didn’t come even remotely close to replicating that against the quality Milwaukee lineup. He’ll take a 4.35 ERA into his next start, scheduled for Thursday against Cincinnati.

Sears’ line would have looked much better if Oakland hadn’t tried to stretch him into the eighth inning. He walked the first two batters he faced, was pulled, and both came around to score. Still, he’s not completed seven innings in three straight starts and worked efficiently in this one after being spotted a six-run lead before toeing the rubber.

That’s 21 straight losses for the White Sox. Sears allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five in an efficient outing, and he’s moved to 9-8 with a 4.35 ERA for the season. That win-loss record is a huge improvement from last year, which he finished 5-16 with a 4.54 ERA.

Sears has a much-improved 36/5 K/BB in 45 1/3 innings over his last six starts. He had come in at 56/28 in 84 innings over his first 16 turns. The win moves him to 8-8 with a 4.53 ERA in 22 starts this season. Last year, he had essentially the same ERA in 32 starts (4.54) and finished 5-14.