The Athletics started this weeklong Southern California road trip on the right note, winning three of four against the woeful, last-place Los Angeles Angels. The series win was anything but easy, though, as the A’s needed 10 innings to win each of the final two games.
Tonight, the first-place Athletics head further south to begin a three-game Memorial Day weekend series against the San Diego Padres, who will be a much tougher opponent.
It will be Padres’ closer Mason Miller’s first time facing his
former team since he was traded last July. Miller’s success has carried over to his new team, as he is 1-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 15 saves in 22 appearances this season. The 27-year-old flamethrower has accumulated an incredible 45 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched, cementing his reputation as one of the most unhittable pitchers in the league.
While the A’s bullpen could desperately use Miller’s elite repertoire, the team likely made the right decision by trading him last summer. His talent is too good to be wasted on a club that was not playoff-bound, and if top shortstop prospect Leo De Vries — the centerpiece of the return package — reaches his All-Star-caliber ceiling, he could ultimately provide the A’s with a greater long-term impact than a closer who only pitches one or two innings per game.
Tonight, the A’s will send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the mound as they try to extend their winning streak to four games. The 33-year-old enters his 11th start of the season with a 3-4 record, a 3.93 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 55 innings pitched. Springs took the loss in his last start against the San Francisco Giants despite allowing just two runs, one earned on five hits over six innings. After going winless so far this month, the A’s southpaw looks to continue pitching well and earn his fourth win of 2026 this evening.
Here’s the A’s starting nine for the game tonight:
Right fielder Carlos Cortes remains in the leadoff spot, a switch made a few days ago that has worked wonders for the A’s lineup. Batting first baseman Nick Kurtz second or third gives him more opportunities to hit with runners on base, creating additional RBI chances for the team’s hottest hitter. Tonight, Kurtz and catcher Shea Langeliers swap spots in the order.
The A’s are still searching for more consistent production from designated hitter Brent Rooker and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom. Meanwhile, Henry Bolte gets another start in center field, with the slumping Lawrence Butler once again relegated to the bench.
This A’s lineup will face Padres’ right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler. The 31-year-old has struggled through his first nine starts with San Diego, posting a 3-2 record with a 5.01 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 41.1 innings pitched.
However, Buehler appears to be turning things around lately. In his last start against the Seattle Mariners, he earned the win after allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work. The outing before that, he tossed six innings of two-run ball. While Buehler may not be the same pitcher he was during the early years of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the veteran right-hander still has the ability to stymie an opposing lineup on any given day. Will Buehler make it three-straight quality starts or will the A’s offense strike early and often to avoid having to face Miller in a save situation?
Springs will face off against this Padres’ lineup on Star-Wars Night at Petco Park:
Starting off, it is important to note that Fernando Tatis Jr. has yet to hit a home run this season. Hopefully his home run drought continues against the A’s this series. The A’s will see several former players in San Diego’s lineup, including designated hitter Miguel Andújar and left fielder Ramon Laureano. Tatis is not the Padres’ only superstar off to a slow start. Third baseman Manny Machado is also struggling, batting .178 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.
Springs and the A’s relievers who follow him will need to carefully navigate the top six hitters in the Padres’ lineup, as San Diego’s lineup becomes significantly weaker from spots seven through nine. Padres starting center fielder Jackson Merrill is not playing tonight due to sore ribs, though he is expected to return in the coming days
This will be a much tougher series against a team widely expected to contend for a National League playoff spot this season. If the A’s can win tonight, it would set the tone for the rest of the series and signal that the “Green and Gold” should not be taken lightly. Let’s go A’s!
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