(Photo credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)

With the offseason acquisitions of Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, the Athletics figured their starting rotation would improve.

But it has exceeded expectations thus far.

Entering Sunday's finale of a four-game series in Seattle, A's starters have combined to allow one earned run over 17 innings for an 0.53 ERA. Severino, Springs and Osvaldo Bido have given up nine hits and struck out 19.

Bido worked out of several jams Saturday in the A's 4-2 victory. The right-hander gave up two runs -- one earned -- on three hits in five-plus innings. He walked four and struck out four.

The only runs Seattle scored came in innings in which the A's made throwing errors -- when catcher Shea Langeliers sailed a ball into center field while trying to stop Ryan Bliss from stealing second, allowing Rowdy Tellez to score from third, and when reliever Hogan Harris' pickoff attempt went awry.

Langeliers made up for his miscue by hitting a go-ahead, two-run homer, the sixth time the A's have gone deep this season.

'We have a lot of power in this lineup,' manager Mark Kotsay said. 'They showed that last year, and they started off again this year showing that ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark. ... We're not necessarily the fastest team, so the home runs help.'

As for Bido, his biggest jam came in the first inning when the Mariners loaded the bases with no outs. Cleanup hitter Randy Arozarena hit a liner up the middle, but second baseman Max Muncy made a leaping catch and stepped on the bag for a double play. Bido struck out Luke Raley to get out of the inning.

'That first inning, if Muncy doesn't make that play, it might be a different ballgame,' Kotsay said. 'It was a great play there to get us two outs.'

The Mariners, looking much like they did in 2024 on offense, went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine on base.

'Lot of traffic early, had plenty of chances,' Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. 'We were able to put some pressure on them on the bases, but couldn't make the most of our opportunities. It starts with getting on base, and guys were able to do that, so that's a good sign. It bodes well going forward. If we keep getting those chances, things will switch. It was tough luck tonight.'

A's left-hander JP Sears (11-13, 4.38 ERA in 2024) is scheduled to take the mound Sunday against Mariners righty Bryan Woo (9-3, 2.89).

Sears, in nine appearances (eight starts) against Seattle, is 2-4 with a 2.66 ERA.

Woo, who grew up in Alameda, Calif., adjacent to the A's former home of Oakland, is 5-0 with an 0.57 ERA in six career starts against them.

Woo is entering a season in the Mariners' rotation for the first time. He made his MLB debut in June 2023 and missed the start of the 2024 campaign while staying at the team's spring training complex in Arizona to deal with elbow inflammation.

'It's been fun to experience all the Opening Day stuff and the energy,' Woo said. 'Obviously missing last year was tough, having to watch those first couple of weeks on TV. So it's a good feeling to be a part of this.'

--Field Level Media