Good morning A’s fans!
The A’s are back home in Sacramento for their final games of the 2026 season. Overall it’s been a tough year for our guys on the field and in the medical staff’s office but the team can still finish strong and hopefully ride some good vibes heading into the long offseason.
First they have six games to go, with a quick two games against the Los Angeles Angels beginning tonight. Like the A’s the Angels are in the final stretch of another lost season themselves. In fact these two teams
are going to finish fourth and fifth in the AL West, with the last-place finisher also having the unfortunate distinction of being the worst team in the American League. The A’s would ideally like to avoid having that label all offseason so a couple wins against the Angels is needed. They’ll need to go at least 2-4 over the final games to avoid another 100-loss season as well. Still lots to play for in the final week.
Tonight will be a battle of lefties as Brady Basso gets the ball for the A’s while the Halos have veteran Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for them. Basso has mostly been a reliever/opener this year but he’s gotten stretched out a bit more in recent outings and could conceivably provide five innings tonight. The A’s would be thrilled with that and it’d end his season on a high after dealing with injuries earlier in the year. Kikuchi meanwhile is finishing up his own injury-shortened year but hasn’t looked like the old Kikuchi of old when on the mound. Tonight would be an excellent chance to snap the losing streak and get us one step closer to fourth place in the division.
Then it’s Jeffrey Springs on the mound in game two of this short two-game series. This’ll likely be his last game in an A’s uniform so hopefully he ends his tenure on a high with a strong start against the Angels. Los Angeles on the other hand has breakout rookie Walbert Urena getting the ball for the final time this year. They’ve found something in Urena and he’s going to be a problem the A’s will have to deal with for years to come.
That wraps the Angels series and then the team welcomes Houston to town for the final four games of the year. They’re desperate to get the AL West but as of right now they’re a game behind their in-state rivals the Texas Rangers. They’re desperate so A’s will see a hugely motivated squad and it’s definitely not going to be easy. If we can take both Angels games, and then steal one against the Astros, that’d guarantee we avoid the dreaded 100-loss season. We need this.
First pitch is at 6:40. Have a great Tuesday everyone.
A’s Coverage:
- A’s Can’t Escape With A Win, Fall To Guardians
- Wheat/Chaff Updates As Season Winds Down
- A’s Swept By Rays, Drop Finale 10-1
- Paralyzed A’s prospect Lasko released from rehab facility to ovation from staff
- Rays Walk-off A’s, 2-1, in Series Opener
- Injuries Out Of Control, But Why?
- No. 2 prospect in baseball De Vries undergoes successful shoulder surgery
- 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
- A’s Win Series, Beat Mariners 8-7
- A’s Walk Off Blue Jays 6-5
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Billy Beane comments on the job Mark Kotsay has done this season.
- What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
- Bi-Polar Performance Arcs Make Evaluation Difficult
- A’s Designate José Suarez For Assignment
- Q&A: Clarke determined to finish strong with A’s after long IL stint
- It’s Been a Bummer Summer in Sacramento
- The A’s valuation rises with sales of 2 MLB clubs as Las Vegas move looms
- A’s, Circa ink 1st Las Vegas founding partnership deal
- Your 2026 Hacktastic A’s
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Daejon Love case brings back Eric Byrnes’ bizarre story of an A’s bat boy impersonation
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
MLB News & Interest:
- These nine series starting tonight will determine postseason play
- Cubs’ Alex Bergman has facial fractures, hopefully to return during postseason
- Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease dodges major injury to shoulder
- Skenes: WBC affected my pitching this year
- A three-way tie for the NL Wild Card is in play. Here’s how it would play out
- Jeff Passan’s 2026 regular season awards
- Rays new road uniforms have fresh take on familiar look
- Giants’ Blade Tidwell exits with elbow discomfort
- River Ryan, key piece in Skubal trade, shines in Tigers debut
- Today in Baseball history
Best of X:
Take a peep at the farm’s leaderboard!
Tough times indeed:
