As I noted in my AL West preview, I’m going to be using Sacramento to refer to this team, as is being done by the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle recently announced that they would call this team by its city name, even though MLB is officially just calling them “Athletics.” Their reasoning:
For now, Sacramento seems to have a healthy connection with the A’s — unlike the contentious relationship between Santa Clara and the 49ers, who bolted from San Francisco in 2014. The sides have fought over the team’s rent, and the 49ers refused to share financial records related to stadium operations and essentially filled the City Council with team-friendly politicians.
Despite the chaos and misery of the relocation from Oakland and many longtime fans vowing to refuse making the trek to Sacramento, there seems to be no lack of interest. The A’s said they received more than 74,000 ticket requests for the home opener.
The Chronicle has decided not to follow the A’s guidelines and will call them the Sacramento Athletics or Sacramento A’s online and in print stories. The Chronicle’s sports editor, Christina Kahrl, who grew up in the Sacramento area an A’s fan, signed off on the decision, along with using the “SAC” designation and not “ATH” in the standings and other agate. Other Hearst newspapers are aboard as well, a nifty decision that oozes with common sense.
For more on the A’s, here’s Nico Pemantle, manager of our SB Nation A’s site Athletics Nation:
A’s fans have endured much the past three years, from 100-loss seasons to extreme pinny-pinching to their current nomadic existence. So it is with humility, and acknowledgement that the team has been pretty bad for a bit, that I say my 2025 mantra is, “Don’t sleep on the A’s.”
Keep in mind that the team was 39-37 in July-August-September last year, and that was with very little participation from Jacob Wilson or Tyler Soderstrom (both injured in the second half). And that was before acquiring what will be their No. 1 and No. 2 starters in Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs. Perhaps just as importantly, the A’s did not suffer a single key loss in the off-season, making only gains in their rotation, their bullpen (Jose Leclerc), and 3B (Gio Urshela).
It might be a stretch to anoint the 2025 A’s contenders for the AL West title, but then again it looks like a relatively weak field and if the A’s are a better-than-.500 team they’re also going to be in the race come September. So while the pundits are casually dismissing the A’s based on their recent past, this is what the 2025 A’s actually have:
A young but very talented infield with Jacob Wilson at SS, Zack Gelof (when he returns from hand surgery) or Max Muncy at 2B, Tyler Soderstrom at 1B, Shea Langeliers at C, and super prospect Nick Kurtz (1B) on a fast track to the big leagues.
An outfield that can hit: Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday are coming off of breakout seasons and Miguel Andujar is healthy again after a core injury sapped him of his power last season. Brent Rooker, who will mostly DH, has emerged as one of the league’s best sluggers.
A rotation that lacks a true No. 1 starter but has the depth its competitors lack. Severino and Springs are followed by Osvaldo Bido, JP Sears, and Joey Estes, with swingman Mitch Spence in the bullpen and several promising prospects waiting in line at Triple-A.
A bullpen that starts with the 102 mile per hour stylings of Mason Miller adds Jose Leclerc in a set up role and seems solid if not spectacular overall.
So where are the team’s biggest weaknesses? Probably outfield defense, where Bleday is miscast as a center fielder, Andujar is a “bat first” player, and Butler is still learning. And the lack of an ace is a concern, especially were the team to get to the post-season.
But this is not a bad team and it could, in fact, be a good team. At least in theory...
Fun facts
The Cubs have played only nine previous regular-season games on the road against the Athletics. Among current teams, they have played fewer, eight, only against the Rays.
Fun fact: The Cubs played nine games on the road against the Kansas City Cowboys in 1886, the Cowboys’ only season in the National League.
Probable pitching matchups
Monday: Ben Brown, RHP (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 2.625 WHIP, 1.96 FIP) vs. Joey Estes, RHP (first 2025 start)
Tuesday: Justin Steele, LHP (1-1, 8.00 ERA, 1.444 WHIP, 6.41 FIP) vs. Luis Severino, RHP (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 3.13 FIP)
Wednesday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (0-1, 12.46 ERA, 2.077 WHIP, 8.17 FIP) vs. Jeffrey Springs, LHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP, 0.13 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Monday: 9:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Tuesday: 9:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 2:35 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The A’s are a better team than they were last year, but I think the Cubs will right the ship and win two of three.
Up next
The Cubs head home for the Wrigley Field opening series, a three-game set against the Padres, which begins Friday afternoon.
Poll
How many games will the Cubs win against the A’s?
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