The spike holes in Zack Gelof's hand are healing, but the hole he left in the Athletics lineup remains.

Ten days after Matt Chapman's cleat ended Gelof's 24-game hitting streak in the second inning at Oracle Park, the A's second baseman is still on the injured list. The official box score from Wednesday's game against the Marlins lists him exactly where he's been since June 24: "10-Day IL (Hand)."

This isn't just about a streak anymore. Oakland is two games back in the wild card race, and they're doing it without the guy who was their best hitter for a month.

The numbers during that streak were electric: .382/.429/.627 with five homers and 14 RBI. Gelof wasn't just getting hits — he was the engine of an offense that suddenly looked like it belonged in a pennant race. Now the A's are trying to hold ground with Alika Williams, a utility infielder recalled from Triple-A, taking most of the reps at second.

Manager Mark Kotsay's last update wasn't encouraging. "He made some improvement, but not a ton," Kotsay told reporters on June 25. That was a week ago. The initial X-rays were negative for fractures, which is good, but a right hand contusion and laceration is the kind of injury that lingers for a guy who makes his living gripping a bat and fielding grounders.

The timing stings. The A's schedule through mid-July is manageable — three against the Marlins, then four against the Rangers, three against the Angels. This is the stretch where you make your move, and they're doing it without their hottest hitter.

You can blame Chapman if you want — he didn't slide on the close play at second, his spikes catching Gelof's hand as the A's infielder took the throw on his knees. But these things happen. The real story is what happens next.

Gelof's absence tests the depth that Billy Beane and David Forst have been building. It tests whether this A's run is real or just a hot streak powered by one guy getting ridiculously hot. So far, they're holding their own. But every day Gelof remains on the IL is another day the margin for error gets thinner.

The wild card race doesn't wait for healing hands.