Cincinnati's playoff push hit a snag, dropping back-to-back to Oakland in a Sacramento setback and wasting a prime chance to close on the Mets.

Hunter Greene's shortest pro start opened the door for the A's to wrestle control, keeping the NL wild-card race tight as September winds down and the Reds search for a jolt to their bullpen and rotation plan.

Oakland erased an early 2-0 hole and stormed past Cincinnati 11-5 at Sutter Health Park, riding a late, power-filled barrage led by Nick Kurtz’s 493-foot grand slam—the season’s longest—and a 28th homer from Brent Rooker. The A’s flipped the script with Cortez’s 12-pitch at-bat homer to put them ahead, then pulled away in a two-out rally sequence that featured Langeliers’ hustle and a key double to cap the frame. A six-run bottom of the 7th through 8th sealed the series sweep and boosted Oakland’s offense for the stretch run.

The late surge highlighted Oakland’s depth: Kurtz, Rooker, Cortez, and Langeliers supplied the big hits, while the A’s bullpen steadied after early damage. For fantasy managers, the performance tightens Kurtz’s power upside, reinforces Rooker as a top power bat, and underscores the potential for the bottom of the order to contribute in a run-rich lineup. Cincinnati’s offense perked early with Stephenson’s three-run shot but could not keep pace once Oakland flipped the momentum.

Powered by three solo homers and lockdown pitching, Oakland blanked Cincinnati 3-0 to take the series opener and keep playoff spoiler hopes alive. Luis Severino starts for the A’s against Hunter Greene in a West Coast tilt that could swing momentum early. Severino’s late-season form has improved (4-1, 2.87 ERA over his last seven), while Greene carries a 2.59 ERA across 16 starts, promising a competitive night for fantasy managers.

With Mark Kotsay steering the A’s and Terry Francona guiding Cincinnati, tonight’s showdown will shape how teams approach the rest of the series and influence daily lineup decisions for Oakland and Cincinnati stacks. Monitor Severino’s strikeout upside and Greene’s road performance for optimal starts and DFS value.