What’s next for A’s after 0-3 start in Sacramento? A tough stretch awaits
The Athletics opened their West Sacramento tenure earlier this week, ushering Major League Baseball into California’s capital region with a three-game series at Sutter Health Park.
It did not go well for the home team.
The Chicago Cubs came in and swept the A’s, opening the series with an 18-3 blowout Monday night and closing it with a 10-2 rout Wednesday afternoon, with Tuesday’s 7-4 win sandwiched in between. At no point in those 27 innings did the A’s take a lead, much less threaten victory.
As the A’s look to get in the win column at Sutter Health Park — their temporary home for at least the next three seasons as the franchise plans in the long term to move into an not-yet-built stadium on the Las Vegas strip — the home schedule doesn’t promise much in immediate relief.
The A’s, after a much-needed off day Thursday, will head to Colorado for a three-game road series against the Rockies, Friday to Sunday. They’ll then head back to Northern California for another home stand, with a pair of three-game series against two more National League teams, both of whom are also off Thursday.
A’s vs. San Diego Padres
Monday, April 7, through Wednesday, April 9
The A’s next home stand will start against who have been arguably MLB’s best team through the first full week: the San Diego Padres.
The Padres came into Thursday with a perfect 7-0 record. That’s second only to the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers (8-0) in the standings, but the Padres own MLB’s best run differential — 36 runs scored while allowing just 11 runs through their first seven games.
San Diego’s star players include outfielders Fernando Tatis Jr., who came into Thursday hitting .423 (fifth-best in MLB); and Jackson Merrill, a 21-year-old who blasted a home run to celebrate a nine-year contract extension Wednesday. Merrill finished second in last season’s National League Rookie of the Year voting.
The Padres pitching staff has notched three shutouts already this season.
A’s vs. New York Mets
Friday, April 11, through Sunday, April 13
The first weekend MLB games played at Sutter Health Park will feature the A’s hosting the New York Mets.
The Mets came into Thursday with a 3-3 record but have a powerful lineup.
Mets sluggers include outfielder Juan Soto, who joined the team this past offseason as a free agent on a blockbuster $765 million free deal; first baseman Pete Alonso, a renowned power hitter; and shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is off to a slow start this year but mashed 33 home runs in 2024 en route to a second-place finish for National League MVP honors.
A potent offense coming to town is a troubling development for the A’s, who gave up 35 runs and eight homers against the Cubs.
