Entering 2026, the consensus around the Athletics was that the team would be led by its talented group of hitters, who may have to outscore opponents to compensate for the team’s average pitching staff. While spring training stats rarely matter and often do not influence how the season will go, the fact that the A’s have scored more runs than every other MLB team shows that their offense is already living up to expectations. The team scored 22 runs across yesterday’s split-squad doubleheader, with
one squad putting up 13 against the Milwaukee Brewers and the other scoring nine against the San Diego Padres.
On the other hand, A’s pitchers have struggled this spring, giving up the third-most runs in the league. That is not a good look for a team that needs improved pitching if it wants to win more games this season.
Today marks another opportunity for the team to get its pitchers on the right track before Opening Day. This afternoon, the A’s will host the Royals, looking to get revenge for the Royals winning 7-6 in their first matchup earlier this spring. Left-hander Jacob Lopez will make his second start of the spring. Following a gradual post-injury ramp-up, Lopez made his first Cactus League appearance last Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing three runs in two innings pitched.
Now that he has shaken off some rust, look for Lopez to pitch a little deeper in today’s game with hopefully better results. If the A’s can get Lopez to pitch for a full season as well as he did during his 25-inning scoreless streak last summer, then that dramatically changes the outlook on this team’s rotation. The team will be watching his performance today closely to see if he is ready to be in the rotation by the beginning of the season. An alternative, if he is not yet built up to start, would be to put him in the bullpen as an option in later innings, long relief or as someone ready to slide into the rotation if another pitcher gets hurt.
Here’s how the A’s lineup versus the Royals looks this afternoon:
Once again, the A’s lineup looks very close to how it will be for regular season games. First baseman Nick Kurtz seems locked into the leadoff spot until a more traditional leadoff table-setter hitter emerges for this team. Right fielder Lawrence Butler, who started several games last year hitting first, has the speed and athleticism typically seen among leadoff hitters. However, he has yet to play in a Cactus League game and A’s manager Mark Kotsay seems to appreciate having Kurtz’s power and on-base ability atop his lineup.
Andy Ibàñez, who will play several positions for the A’s this season, gets the start at third base today. In the outfield, starting left fielder Tyler Soderstrom is joined by two guys performing well at camp. Henry Bolte, the club’s top outfield prospect, may have sped up his MLB arrival with his impressive spring. His three-run home run to right field off right-hander Michael King, one of the Padres’ best pitchers, started the A’s seven-run, four-homer inning that gave them the lead yesterday. Last but not least, non-roster invitee Cade Marlowe has also made the most of his playing time.
That lineup will be facing Royals right-hander Ryan Berget, who will be making his fourth Cactus League start. Berget, who is vying for a spot in his team’s rotation, has performed well so far, going 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA over six innings pitched.
Here’s how the Royals stack up:
With so many of Kansas City’s stars — Bobby Witt Jr, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez —still playing for their respective counties in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), the Royals’ lineup today is full of non-roster invitees and players like Nick Loftin and Josh Rojas who are looking to make the team. As a result, it should not be too difficult a matchup for Lopez and the Athletics this afternoon.
Speaking of the WBC, with Team Canada eliminated, Denzel Clarke is set to return to A’s camp. He showed off his defense in the tournament, although he did not contribute much offensively for his country. However, several A’s players are still competing. Darell Hernáiz and Carlos Cortes are in Puerto Rico’s starting lineup for its quarterfinal clash against Italy this afternoon. Tomorrow, Luis Severino will start for Team Dominican Republic in its heavyweight showdown against Team USA. It would not be a shock if fellow A’s pitcher Elvis Alvarado also appears in that game out of the Dominican Republic’s bullpen.
A lot of baseball is happening today and tomorrow! Let’s go A’s!
