Nick Kurtz Dropped to Third in Lineup Against Lefty
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz hit leadoff for the team in the first four games of the 2026 season, but with Atlanta Braves left-hander Jose Suarez on the mound on Tuesday, Kurtz will drop down to third in the batting order, per MLB.com. The power-hitting left-hander looked amazing in his MLB debut with the A's last year, hitting .290/.383/.619 with a 1.002 OPS, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and 90 runs scored in 489 plate appearances over 117 games played. The former fourth overall pick out of Wake Forest in 2024 is off to a slot start in 2026, though, going 1-for-13 with three runs scored, a stolen base, four walks, and eight strikeouts in four games played. Kurtz really struggled against southpaws in his rookie season, going 27-for-137 (.197) against them with nine of his 36 homers and a .685 OPS. With Kurtz dropping to third in the lineup, shortstop Jacob Wilson will jump up to the leadoff spot against a lefty on Tuesday at Truist Park.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
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