The Athletics are returning for their latest home stand in West Sacramento squarely in the playoff race nearly a quarter through the season.
The team went 5-2 on its recent road trip and sits at 19-16, currently tied for the second American League wild card spot with the Kansas City Royals. Their 7-3 record over their last 10 games is the second-best mark in baseball over that span behind Kansas City’s 8-2.
The A’s on Monday will begin a key six-game home stand against two teams sitting in first place in their respective divisions: the Seattle Mariners (20-13) and New York Yankees (19-15).
Manager Mark Kotsay’s team is in the postseason mix despite a wide disparity with its home and road records. The A’s six home wins are tied for the fewest in the American league while their 13 road wins are the most in baseball.
The biggest disparity is with the team’s pitching. At home, the A’s have a 5.29 ERA while opponents have a robust .842 OPS at Sutter Health Park. On the road, A’s pitchers have a 3.74 ERA while opponents’ OPS is down to .651. A’s pitchers have allowed 25 home runs at home to just 12 on the road.
The A’s on their road trip won three of four against the Texas Rangers and two of three versus the Miami Marlins. They have won five of their last six series.
Seattle Mariners vs. A’s
The Mariners (20-13) have the second-best record in the American League and had a six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in a road loss to the Texas Rangers. Seattle’s 49 home runs ranks second in the AL behind only the Yankees’ 57.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh leads the majors with 12 home runs while designated hitter Jorge Polanco isn’t far behind with 9. That mark is tied for sixth alongside A’s hitters Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom.
Game times for the Mariners series and probable pitchers:
Monday, 7:05 p.m.: Bryce Miller (2-3, 3.52 ERA) vs. Luis Severino (1-3, 3.30)
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.: Emerson Hancock (1-1, 6.62) vs. Jeffrey Springs (4-3, 4.98)
Wednesday, 12:35 p.m.: Bryan Woo (4-1, 2.58) vs. TBD
Thursday: off day
New York Yankees vs. A’s
The spectacle of baseball’s biggest brand coming to West Sacramento’s minor league ballpark will be something to behold.
Two-time MVP Aaron Judge will be playing in the Central Valley for the first time, roughly 40 miles from his alma mater Linden High School and nearby Fresno State.
Judge is off to a white-hot start, leading baseball in batting average (.423), on-base percentage (.510), slugging percentage (.777), hits (55), runs (32) and RBI (33). His 11 home runs are second in baseball. He’s the early runaway favorite to win his third MVP and fifth Silver Slugger.
Off the field, the New York media should be expected to create some headlines about the situation at Sutter Health Park, while Yankees fans will likely be the most prominent road fans at the ballpark all season. Perhaps only the Giants on July 4 weekend will bring more opposing fans to West Sacramento.
Game times for the Yankees series:
Friday, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Probable pitchers have not been announced.
A’s ticket prices
Here are ticket prices for this week’s home games as of Monday morning via the team’s website and SeetGeek, which is MLB’s official secondary ticket marketplace.
The A’s offer same-day lawn tickets for $25 apiece for all home games, with tickets available starting at 9 a.m. Advance tickets to sit on the lawn may be available for higher prices.
Monday vs. Mariners: starting at $26 for standard seating (SeatGeek) and $66.20 (team website).
Tuesday vs. Mariners: starting at $28 for standard seating (SeatGeek) and $37.45 for lawn seating (team website).
Wednesday vs. Mariners: starting at $21 for standard seating (SeatGeek) and $32.45 for lawn seating (team website).
Friday vs. Yankees: starting at $90 for lawn seating (Seatgeek) and $95.20 for lawn seating (team website).
Saturday vs. Yankees: starting $82 for lawn seating (SeatGeek) and $95.20 for lawn seating (team website).
Sunday vs. Yankees: starting at $92 for lawn seating (SeatGeek) and $95.20 for lawn seating (team website).
Giveaways and promotions at Sutter Health Park
Tuesday: Straw Hat presented by Sky River Casino
Sunday: Mother’s Day
What’s next?
The A’s after the home stand have a California road trip starting against the Los Angeles Dodgers May 13 through 15 and then the San Francisco Giants May 16 through 18.
They’ll return to Sutter Health park for four games against the last place Los Angeles Angels and three games against the Philadelphia Phillies beginning May 19.
