Good morning A’s fans!
Yesterday, the 2026 MLB playoffs began with four opening games in the best-of-three Wild Card series. The victorious Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres moved one step closer to the Division Series. There, the rested Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays are waiting to pounce on their prey.
While the Athletics are watching the playoffs from afar for a fifth straight year, that does not mean October
baseball is devoid of players and coaches who have history with the Green and Gold.
Stephen Vogt, a fan-favorite during his successful career with the A’s, has led Cleveland to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons as their manager. In hindsight, the A’s should have hired him instead of Mark Kotsay, but the past cannot be changed and Vogt finds himself in a much more stable situation in Cleveland.
Moving to active players, there are former A’s on just about every postseason squad. Matt Olson has started every game at first base for the Braves, who also employ Sean Murphy as their backup catcher and onetime A’s minor leaguer Grant Holmes in their rotation. Former Athletic, left-hander Jesús Luzardo, started the Philadelphia Phillies first playoff game.
Another former A’s draft pick, Nick Allen, is a backup infielder on the Houston Astros, while reliever Sean Newcomb, who was on the A’s from 2023 through 2025, is a vital part of the White Sox’ bullpen.
On the East Coast, veteran pitchers Paul Blackburn and Sonny Gray enjoyed strong seasons with the Yankees and Boston Red Sox and will be counted on if their teams want to make a deep postseason run this fall.
Shifting to the West Coast, Aaron Civale, who the Athletics designated for assignment earlier this year, will pitch in relief for the Chicago Cubs. Their opponent, the Padres, are reaping the rewards of employing closer Mason Miller, who has thrived since the A’s traded him during the 2025 trade deadline. Miguel Andujar joined his former teammate Miller in San Diego this season.
Which of these former players competing this week do you most want to see win the World Series? What are your playoff predictions? Should the A’s attempt to bring back Blackburn in free agency this offseason?
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics’ Zack Gelof sues Tigers after hitting metal fence
- 2026: Year Of The “Didn’t See That Coming!”
- Where the A’s Plan to Use Zack Gelof in 2027
- Last MLB game in West Sacramento? Why A’s 2026 season deserves a eulogy
- A’s Lose Final Game Of The Year To Astros 9-0
- Perkins finishes intriguing season with another flash of potential
- A’s Bounce Back, Take Second Game From Astros 6-5
- ‘Road Trip Mike’ on the move to wherever his beloved A’s go
- Wheat/Chaff Updates As Season Winds Down
- Paralyzed A’s prospect Lasko released from rehab facility to ovation from staff
- Devin Taylor: Athletics 2026 Minor League Player Of The Year
- Henry Bolte Is the A’s Next Budding Star
- Determining Athletics’ Offensive MVP for the 2026 Season
- Notes From Star-Studded Rockies-A’s Instructional League
- Injuries Out Of Control, But Why?
- 2027 Infield Landscape Ever Changing
- “Fast Movers” Might Be Key To Contention
- Billy Beane comments on the job Mark Kotsay has done this season.
- Should Mark Kotsay return in 2027? A’s Players Weigh In
- What the A’s Hiring Mike Rizzo would Signal and the Questions it Would Raise
- Athletics Considering James Click For GM Vacancy
- Get the best of Athletics Nation on the new SB Nation app
MLB News & Interest:
- Here is why each playoff team could win the World Series
- Ghiroli: Why I’m (sort of) dreading this postseason
- Tatis, Machado start Wild Card Series with a bang, homering in 1st inning
- Riley’s clutch HR turns Braves’ 8th-inning deficit into huge Game 1 win
- White Sox make it look easy in Game 1 win over AL West champs
- Yanks ride Massachusetts natives Schlittler, Rice to Game 1 win over Sox
- Arraez (ankle) won’t be on Phillies’ wild-card roster; Luzardo to open G1
- Astros owner: Playoff berth will factor into call on Espada
- Pope Leo XIV sends blessings to White Sox ahead of playoffs
- Injured Judge not added to Wild Card Series roster
- Corbin Burnes Not Expected To Need Shoulder Surgery
- Mariners Prefer To Hire Experienced Manager; Torey Lovullo On Radar
- Giants stamp commitment to Vitello as Posey reflects on tough 2026
- Rangers’ Chris Young On Offseason, Seager, Jung
- Angels Notes: Mozeliak, Suzuki, Trout
- Blue Jays Interested In Seiya Suzuki
- Ryan Jeffers Open To Staying With Twins, Plans To Test Free Agency
- Potential MLB game at national park criticized by some
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley delivered the postseason’s first game-changing moment yesterday.
The Athletics are still searching for their next general manager. Ideally, the club will have someone in place before free agency opens after the playoffs end.
This fact sums up the state of baseball in this max-effort era. Fewer starters are pitching deep into games because of the strain on their arms from trying to throw every pitch as fast as possible.
