Allen is starting at shortstop and batting eighth against the Padres on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Allen didn't see the field on Opening Day, but he'll get his first start of the 2025 season Friday while Orlando Arcia retreats to the dugout. Allen appeared in 41 regular-season games for the Athletics in 2024 and slashed .175/.216/.247 with one home run and four RBI across 105 plate appearances before being traded to Atlanta in November.

Allen's defense at shortstop makes him the likeliest choice for a bench spot on Atlanta's initial 26-man roster, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team's starters rarely get a day or even an at-bat off, so Allen's lack of offense isn't a big impediment to him winning the job if manager Brian Snitker is purely looking for the best defensive option. Allen has shown stolen-base ability in the minors and posted some PCL-inflated slash line promise at Triple-A Las Vegas in the A's system, but his .209/.254/.283 career line over 760 big-league plate appearances offers an accurate portrait of his fantasy upside should the 26-year-old find his way into consistent playing time.

Atlanta acquired Allen from the Athletics on Monday in exchange for Jared Johnson.

EDGE Analysis

Allen, 26, has managed just a .209/.254/.283 batting line over parts of three seasons at the major-league level. He does have a reputation as a solid glove at shortstop, although he came in at negative-2 Outs Above Average during his 41 games with the Athletics in 2024. Allen offers an alternative at shortstop to Orlando Arcia, who is coming off a disappointing season, but ultimately Allen should be more of a depth option.

Allen went 2-for-4 with two doubles in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Drawing only his second start in the last six games, Allen connected for his first extra-base hits at the big-league level since April 25. The 25-year-old infielder has been back up with the Athletics since late August, but he's drawn only 16 plate appearances across seven games overall since returning. Allen has made appearances at each infield position except first base this season, yet the good health the A's are enjoying down the stretch leave very few paths to playing time for him.

Allen went 1-for-4 with a run in a loss to the Reds on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Allen had been summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, but Thursday marked his first taste of big-league game action since May 1. The 25-year-old infielder drew the start at shortstop Thursday, but it remains to be seen how much playing time the typically light-hitting Allen will see down the stretch with the A's expected to give Jacob Wilson a long look.

The Athletics recalled Allen from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Allen earned the promotion after putting up a 1.136 OPS with five home runs and seven stolen bases in August. He has managed a lowly .210/.256/.284 batting line in parts of three seasons with the Athletics, and with Jacob Wilson, Zack Gelof and likely Max Schuemann ahead of him in the pecking order in the infield, Allen may be in store for sparse playing time over the final month of the campaign.

Allen owns a .420 average and 1.055 OPS over 80 plate appearances in 17 games with Triple-A Las Vegas since being optioned May 3.

EDGE Analysis

Allen has eight extra-base hits (six doubles, one triple, one home run), 12 RBI, eight walks, two steals, a hit-by-pitch and 16 runs, making it an all-around dominant showing for the previously struggling shortstop. Allen has also upped his walk rate from a 6.5 percent figure he'd mustered during his time with the Athletics to 10.0 percent, while his strikeout rate has seen a welcome reduction from 24.7 percent to a modest 15.0 percent. Nevertheless, the A's already saw this type of drastic dichotomy from Allen last season, when he thrived in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League but produced strikingly different numbers at the major-league level. With Max Schuemann putting together a solid showing (.261 average, .709 OPS) at shortstop with the big-league club, Allen doesn't appear to have a viable path for a return to the Athletics for the time being.

The Athletics optioned Allen to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Allen will return to the minors after slashing .171/.227/.243 across 77 plate appearances to begin the season. The 25-year-old infielder may return to Oakland if he's able to replicate his .939 Triple-A OPS from last year, but his reputation as an offensive liability in the majors could make the team hesitant to call him back up.

Allen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

For the second time in three games, Allen will hit the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Albert Suarez) while Darell Hernaiz checks in for him at shortstop. Allen is the more established big-league player of the two shortstops, but given that he posted a lowly .550 OPS over 329 plate appearances in 2023 and is off to an even worse start in 2024 (.490 OPS In 73 plate appearances), the Athletics could be motivated to give the rookie Hernaiz an extended look at the position.

Allen is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Allen started the previous eight games but will take a seat after going 5-for-22 with a solo home run during that stretch. Darell Hernaiz will step in at shortstop and bat seventh Friday.