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Athletics baseball is back in California this weekend for their home-opener series against an an AL West division rival. The Athletics face Houston Astros for a three-game set, beginning Friday, April 3 at 6:40 p.m. PT (9:40 p.m. ET).
After a rough start on the road, where the A's went 1-5 combined against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, the A's are looking to string along some wins in front of their temporary home crowd at Sutter Health Park, a minor league ballpark that seats 14,000 in West Sacramento, California.
It's one of the rare times that fans can watch the team in person in Yolo County in the early part of the season as their series against Houston is the team's only three home games over their first 15 games.
The A's are currently tied with the Red Sox and White Sox for the lowest winning percentage in the majors, marking the second time in the last three years the A's have started the season 1-5. The last time they started 1-5 was the 2024 season, when they finished with a 69-93 record.
However, the A's have had good fortune against Houston. They went 8-5 against the Astros in 2025, winning the season series for the first time since 2020. The A's went 4-3 in West Sacramento and 4-2 in Houston against the Astros last year.
Here's what to look out for in their home-series against the Astros as the A's look to get things on track.
More A's: Bold and fun predictions for the Athletics' 2026 season
Here's the A's batting order:
Pitcher: Jeffrey Springs, LHP, 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 2 SO
Here's the Houston Astros batting order:
Pitcher: Cristian Javier, RHP, 0-0, 11.57 ERA, 1 SO
The A's have capable hitters and game changers throughout their lineup including Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom.
Langeliers has already knocked five homers in the A's first six games, which matches Mark McGwire's 1992 season for the most in Athletics history over the first six games. He leads the majors in home runs (5), is tied for third in extra base hits (5) and tied for fourth in RBI (8).
Rooker needs a double to hit the 100-mark for his career. A home run would put him at the 100-mark with the A's, and he would be the 30th player in A's history to reach that milestone.
Kurtz hopes to make some of the same magic he did last year against the 'Stros. He went 21-for-42 (.500) with 17 runs, six doubles, nine home runs and 18 RBI in 10 games against Houston in 2025. Kurtz provided heroics last year with walk-off home runs against Houston on June 16 and 19.
And those game-winners were only a sample.Kurtz batted a career-high 6-for-6 with six runs, a double, four home runs, eight RBI, five extra base hits and 19 total bases in a July 25 win.
The A's bullpen has allowed just two runs in the last four games (16.1 IP, 1.10 ERA) and has a 2.52 ERA overall, which is ninth lowest in the majors.
Jeffrey Springs is getting the starting nod against Houston's Cristian Javier. Springs should give A's fans a good feeling, as he is 3-0 with a 3.55 ERA in four games, two starts, in his career against Houston.
Last year against AL West teams, Springs went 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA and .594 opponents OPS in 10 games. He has a career record of 15-6 with a 3.44 ERA against that division.
Springs needs one strikeout for the 500th of his nine-year career.
The A's take on the Houston Astros at 6:40 p.m. PT (9:40 p.m. ET), here how to watch.
Here are the odds beween the Houston Astros and Athletics for their game on April 3, courtesy of BetMGM.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Athletics face Astros this weekend. Can young A's core deliver wins?
Continue reading...
After a rough start on the road, where the A's went 1-5 combined against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, the A's are looking to string along some wins in front of their temporary home crowd at Sutter Health Park, a minor league ballpark that seats 14,000 in West Sacramento, California.
It's one of the rare times that fans can watch the team in person in Yolo County in the early part of the season as their series against Houston is the team's only three home games over their first 15 games.
The A's are currently tied with the Red Sox and White Sox for the lowest winning percentage in the majors, marking the second time in the last three years the A's have started the season 1-5. The last time they started 1-5 was the 2024 season, when they finished with a 69-93 record.
However, the A's have had good fortune against Houston. They went 8-5 against the Astros in 2025, winning the season series for the first time since 2020. The A's went 4-3 in West Sacramento and 4-2 in Houston against the Astros last year.
Here's what to look out for in their home-series against the Astros as the A's look to get things on track.
More A's: Bold and fun predictions for the Athletics' 2026 season
Athletics batting lineup
Here's the A's batting order:
Athletics Lineup/Batting Order vs. Houston Astros
Pitcher: Jeffrey Springs, LHP, 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 2 SO
- Nick Kurtz,1B
- Shea Langeliers, C
- Tyler Soderstrom, LF
- Brent Rooker, DH
- Jacob Wilson, SS
- Lawrence Butler, RF
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Jeff McNeil, 2B
- Denzel Clarke, CF
Houston Astros batting lineup
Here's the Houston Astros batting order:
Astros batting order vs. A's
Pitcher: Cristian Javier, RHP, 0-0, 11.57 ERA, 1 SO
- Jeremy Peña, SS
- Yordan Alvarez, DH
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Carlos Correa, 3B
- Christian Walker, 1B
- Cam Smith, RF
- Jake Meyers, CF
- Yainer Diaz, C
- Brice Matthews, LF
Athletics' young core offensive capability
The A's have capable hitters and game changers throughout their lineup including Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom.
Langeliers has already knocked five homers in the A's first six games, which matches Mark McGwire's 1992 season for the most in Athletics history over the first six games. He leads the majors in home runs (5), is tied for third in extra base hits (5) and tied for fourth in RBI (8).
Rooker needs a double to hit the 100-mark for his career. A home run would put him at the 100-mark with the A's, and he would be the 30th player in A's history to reach that milestone.
Kurtz hopes to make some of the same magic he did last year against the 'Stros. He went 21-for-42 (.500) with 17 runs, six doubles, nine home runs and 18 RBI in 10 games against Houston in 2025. Kurtz provided heroics last year with walk-off home runs against Houston on June 16 and 19.
And those game-winners were only a sample.Kurtz batted a career-high 6-for-6 with six runs, a double, four home runs, eight RBI, five extra base hits and 19 total bases in a July 25 win.
Can Jeffrey Springs be answer to bullpen questions?
The A's bullpen has allowed just two runs in the last four games (16.1 IP, 1.10 ERA) and has a 2.52 ERA overall, which is ninth lowest in the majors.
Jeffrey Springs is getting the starting nod against Houston's Cristian Javier. Springs should give A's fans a good feeling, as he is 3-0 with a 3.55 ERA in four games, two starts, in his career against Houston.
Last year against AL West teams, Springs went 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA and .594 opponents OPS in 10 games. He has a career record of 15-6 with a 3.44 ERA against that division.
Springs needs one strikeout for the 500th of his nine-year career.
How to watch A's vs. Astros
The A's take on the Houston Astros at 6:40 p.m. PT (9:40 p.m. ET), here how to watch.
- Matchup: HOU at ATH
- Date: Friday, Apr. 3
- Time: 9:40 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Sutter Health Park
- Location: West Sacramento, California
- TV: NBC Sports California and Space City Home Network 2
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Athletics vs. Astros odds
Here are the odds beween the Houston Astros and Athletics for their game on April 3, courtesy of BetMGM.
- Spread:Astros -1.5, +140; Athletics +1.5, -165
- Total (O/U): Astros O 10, -105; Athletics U 10, -115
- Money:Astros -115; Athletics -105
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Athletics face Astros this weekend. Can young A's core deliver wins?
Continue reading...
