OAKLAND - Josh Phegley is off to the best start of his career. Entering Saturday, the A's catcher was slashing .276/.317/.474 with five home runs and 28 RBI.
Phegley's .276 batting average leads the team and his 28 RBI are tied for second, behind only Khris Davis. The 31-year-old has arguably been Oakland's best hitter this season, and he has done it from the number nine spot in the order.
That begs the question, should the A's move Phegley up in the lineup? Bob Melvin says no, at least for now.
"The way everybody's been swinging recently, I think just leave him there and let him do his thing," the A's manager said. "We've been winning games with the bottom of the order at times. ... I think the balance in the lineup is great."
Melvin has a point. Jurickson Profar and Ramón Laureano have also been swinging hot bats at the bottom of the lineup. Profar has five home runs and 13 RBI this month, while Laureano is on a seven-game hitting streak, batting .357 during that stretch.
"I feel like our lineup works well the way it is," Phegley told NBC Sports California. "I kind of take pride in seven, eight, nine in our lineup. There's no easy spot in our order for pitchers. They get down to seven, eight, nine, and they know they still have to have it locked in. There are no easy outs. We're doing it one through nine and I'm happy with where I'm at."
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It certainly makes sense to leave the lineup alone during this current seven-game winning streak. As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
However, it's certainly an idea worth revisiting later this season, especially if anyone starts to slump. Phegley has looked more like a cleanup hitter than a No. 9 option, but for now, he's a terrific luxury at the bottom of the lineup.
