Rooker's Return Boosts A's Offense

It's April 26, I'm Corey with the story, and this is MLB News today, your AI-powered

baseball briefing.

Brent Rooker has been sidelined since April 10, with an oblique strain, but Carlos Cortez

stepped up big at designated hitter for the Oakland, athletics hitting 333 with four

home runs and a strikeout rate under 7%.

Manager Mark Cotsay shared good news this weekend in Arlington, saying Rooker's recovery

is ahead of schedule, he's already faced high velocity, pitching and plans batting practice

Friday with a possible return this weekend or early next week.

The A's offense has clipped without Rooker, ranking 12th and weighted runs created

plus at 113 since April 11, going 8 and 6, while averaging nearly 5 runs per game.

Cortez leaves the charge with a 184 weighted runs created plus, trailing only Nick Kurt

and his high contact rate plus power makes him.

Not to bench even with Rooker nearing a comeback, sliding Rooker back into the heart of the

order could supercharge things further, but it means shuffling outfield spots.

Maybe Cortez to write, get off.

To center less often, or benching struggling Lauren's butler to keep the hot bats rolling.