Jacob

Wilson

Wilson is at shortstop and hitting second following a brief one-game absence due to right knee tendonitis. The 24-year-old will have to manage the ongoing issue for the final two months.

Athletics’ manager Mark Kotsay called the issue manageable and said that they expect Wilson to return to manning the shortstop position on Tuesday. Alika Williams will start there in his place on Sunday and will bat seventh against Keider Montero and the Tigers as the A’s look to avoid a three-game series sweep.

The left shoulder that he hurt in late June also remains something of a problem. Wilson isn’t currently hitting well enough to really justify the starts at DH, but the A’s don’t have much to lose by keeping him there and it’s not like he’s blocking anyone.

Wilson was hitless until it mattered most. With a runner on and two outs in the ninth, down by two runs, he took Paul Sewald deep for a two-run blast to tie the game. The 24-year-old shortstop is up to seven homers and 32 RBI while hitting .291/.323/.425 across 261 plate appearances.

Wilson’s homer got the party started for the A’s; a leadoff shot off Zack Littell for his fifth homer of the season. The Athletics would score another 14 in the blowout win, and Wilson would drive in one of those with a single in the seventh. Wilson has been a solid if unspectacular performer when at the top of the lineup, and he’s now slashing .288/.318/.403 on the campaign over his 58 games.

Wilson gets a look atop the Athletics’ lineup with Nick Kurtz on the injured list against lefty opener Bryan Hudson after Lawrence Butler took at turn during Friday’s series opener. The 24-year-old contact-oriented shortstop should continue to get opportunities against lefties while Kurtz is on the shelf. He’s hit .286 (4-for-14) in four games since returning from the injured list earlier this week.

Wilson missed just a smidgen over the minimum 10-day stint while recovering from inflammation in his right thumb. The 24-year-old should be in the lineup everyday — with a break or two here and there — as long as he’s healthy enough to play. That’s been an issue in 2026, however, as injuries have limited the talented shortstop to just 50 games.

The Athletics attempted to give Wilson some time off to avoid a trip to the injured list, but they were left with little choice heading into Monday’s series opener against the Dodgers after he missed their previous four contests with a shoulder issue. It’s a bit strange to see him hit the shelf with a different injury altogether. No word yet concerning how much time the 24-year-old shortstop will miss. He’s been snake-bitten by injuries this season, which have limited him to just 50 games.

It’s the fourth consecutive game that Wilson has missed due to a left shoulder injury, though he is improving and is once again expected to be available off the bench on Sunday. Ailka Williams will once again start in his place at shortstop and will bat ninth against Angels’ left-hander Sam Aldegheri.

Wilson is out of the lineup for a third straight game with a left shoulder injury sustained Wednesday. Alika Williams is again filling in for him.