These seven MLB teams won’t be coming to West Sacramento to play the A’s until 2026
The Athletics during their first season in West Sacramento will host many of Major League Baseball’s most notable teams, but some won’t be coming until 2026.
MLB began using a more balanced schedule in 2023 that was designed for divisional teams to play more similar opponents for competitive fairness. It increased the number of interleague games from 16 to 46, meaning every team in each of the two leagues would play in a series.
This year, that number has increased to 48 because MLB created what it calls “Rivalry Weekend” May 16-18, when teams play their regional interleague rivals. The A’s will play the Giants that weekend at Oracle Park in San Francisco and July 4 weekend at Sutter Health Park, with a three-game series at each stadium.
As a result of the change, each of MLB’s 30 teams in 2023 began playing at least one series against the other 29 teams each season for the first time since interleague play started in 1997.
That change to interleague scheduling also means the A’s will host certain National League teams every other year, with their sole series against those teams coming on the road (they will host every American League team at least once). So a handful of notable NL teams won’t be coming to Sutter Health Park this season, including the reigning World Series champions.
Teams coming to West Sacramento in 2026 only
▪ Los Angeles Dodgers
▪ Colorado Rockies
▪ Milwaukee Brewers
▪ St. Louis Cardinals
▪ Pittsburgh Pirates
▪ Washington Nationals
▪ Miami Marlins
It’s also worth noting that because the A’s stay in West Sacramento is temporary and currently planned for just three years, 2026 may be the only year that seven National League teams play in California’s capital region. National League teams visiting in 2025 should return in 2027, barring further changes to how MLB schedules games.
Teams coming to West Sacramento in 2025 and 2027 only
▪ Arizona Diamondbacks
▪ San Diego Padres
▪ Chicago Cubs
▪ Cincinnati Reds
▪ Atlanta Braves
▪ New York Mets
▪ Philadelphia Phillies
Teams visiting West Sacramento all three years
All 14 of the A’s American League opponents, plus the Giants of the National League, will play in West Sacramento all three years.
The Athletics’ full schedule can be found below, as well as on the team’s website.
