At this point in the season, the Athletics need more from their starting pitchers. This past week in Sacramento they went 1-5, dropping the team to 5-16 in their past 21 at Sutter Health Park. A big part of the reason for that is that the starters just didn't pitch well, and didn't provide innings, which were filled up by the bullpen. 

Across six games, the A's received just 27 ⅓ innings from their starters, and they also posted a 9.55 ERA in those innings. The bullpen picked up the other 26 ⅔ innings and held a 6.08 ERA. Neither is great, but the starters have a direct impact on how much or how little the bullpen is used and how fresh they are. 

The starters get four days in between starts no matter how they perform, but the bullpen doesn't have that same luxury — how much they're used, and how much rest they get, is dictated by how deep the rotation goes each night.

The frustrating part for the team is that the offense — down four key members — wasn't given much of a chance, finding themselves behind big early. On Sunday the Marlins were up 6-0 after three innings, 3-0 after three innings on Saturday, and 7-0 after two innings on Friday. 

Being behind the eight ball that much so early isn't going to lead to many wins. 

"The starting pitching is what we need to improve," A's manager Mark Kotsay said after Saturday's defeat. "We need to get guys deep into games. We need to put up some zeroes early for some momentum." 

Gage Jump, who has been terrific in his rookie campaign with the club, entered the week with a 2.04 ERA and had gone at least five innings in each of his six starts. He then combined to give up 11 earned runs across 7 ⅔ against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Marlins, failing to pitch into the fifth in either game. 

"Getting out of the ballgame that early — that just can't happen," Jump said after Sunday's game. 

There is a clear emphasis that the team needs more from the starting staff, and Kotsay said after Sunday's game that they're going to figure out how to make those adjustments happen.

"Adjustments have to be made, and we're going to get after it," Kotsay said Sunday. "We're at a point where starting pitching again, as I said last night, needs to perform better. They know that as a group. We've addressed it. Now they've gotta make [the] change, and that's something we're in the middle of right now. Really getting the details to how we're going to go about attacking and pitching going forward." 

The A's pitching staff as a whole over the course of the season has been one of the best on the road, with their 3.71 ERA ranking 5th overall. It should come as no surprise that the club also ranks 30th in home ERA for the year with a 6.39. 

"You make a mistake, you leave a breaking ball up, fastball up, and they put a good swing on it, it's going to go over the fence," Jump said of the difficulties of pitching in Sacramento. "I'm used to that in Vegas. I know that's what's gonna happen here, but when it happens, I mean, in any ballpark, it's gonna be a home run." 

The emphasis from both Kotsay and Jump after the game on Sunday was about keeping the ball down. It's when the ball is left up that the opposition has had success against them, and at Sutter Health Park, the confines aren't very confining. The A's home ballpark has the second-most hitter-friendly Park Factor score (110), behind just the mile-high Colorado Rockies (113).

The A's current rotation both at home and on the road:

J.T. Ginn: 3.75 ERA at home, 2.31 ERA on the road (3.04 overall)

Gage Jump: 6.57 ERA at home, 0.49 ERA on the road (3.98 overall)

Aaron Civale: 6.96 ERA at home, 3.60 ERA on the road (5.10 overall)

Jeffrey Springs: 6.79 ERA at home, 4.38 ERA on the road (5.79 overall)

Jack Perkins: 7.41 ERA at home, 5.66 ERA on the road (6.75 overall) 

Perkins' 6.75 ERA is high, but he also holds a 3.99 FIP. He's also given up seven home runs in Sacramento and just one on the road. 

"I think maybe subconsciously, yeah," Jump said about the mental pressure of knowing how the ballpark plays and perhaps trying to be perfect because of it. "But personally I really try not to have it affect me. It's the walks and base runners that really make me upset. Solo home runs I'm fine with, but when you get runners on, that's where they do damage."

The A's are taking advantage of the off-day on Monday, slotting Ginn into the starting spot on Tuesday, even though it should be Springs' turn in the rotation. This gives one of the A's most consistent starters two starts to close out the first half.

Entering the final week of the first half, the A's will be rolling into Detroit with Ginn (7-4, 3.04 ERA) taking on two-time AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (4-4, 3.15 ERA). These two faced off last year on August 25 at Sutter Health Park, and Ginn gave up three earned across 5 ⅓, striking out eight. Skubal allowed six runs — one earned — and Shea Langeliers blasted a grand slam against him in the seventh to give the A's the lead. 

Wednesday will be Springs (3-8, 5.79 ERA) taking on Troy Melton (4-1, 2.05 ERA). Springs held a 10.00 ERA in June and has gone 0-8 since April 19. His last win came on April 14 against the Texas Rangers. The Tigers are 40-50 and will offer him a chance to break that streak. 

Thursday's finale will be started by Perkins (2-4, 6.75 ERA) for the A's, going against familiar foe Framber Valdez (4-6, 4.29 ERA). 

This being the final week before the break, the A's could also choose to be creative down the rotation a little bit. Civale's regular day to pitch would be Thursday, but Perkins is already the probable arm there. Perhaps they slide Civale into the bullpen and give Kade Morris or Mason Barnett a shot in the rotation for a different look heading into the second half. 

If they wanted to make a larger move, Jacob Lopez has been pitching better with Triple-A Las Vegas over his past two starts. With Perkins already being announced as the probable starter in the finale, that would leave Civale as the potential odd-man out. 

Since Civale returned from the IL on June 17, he's 0-4 in four starts and holds an 8.10 ERA. When he was rolling earlier in the season, he was able to provide five quality innings — nothing more and nothing less. Now that the effectiveness has diminished of late, perhaps the A's are looking for a new way to utilize him. 

Whichever path the A's end up choosing, they're not going to be able to continue with business as usual for much longer if they hope to keep their slim postseason chances alive.