The Sacramento Athletics are in the midst of a historic and highly scrutinized transition, playing their inaugural season in California’s capital city after relocating from Oakland. While the circumstances surrounding the move sparked backlash among longtime A’s fans, the team has found an unexpectedly warm reception in Sacramento. Their home stadium, Sutter Health Park, is a converted Triple-A venue with a modest 10,624-seat capacity—but fan demand has been anything but modest, with over 74,000 ticket requests for the first home series. The energy in the ballpark is palpable, and the Athletics are hoping to channel that enthusiasm into meaningful wins as they rebuild both their roster and reputation. On the field, the Athletics are looking far more competent than they did during their 110-loss campaign just a couple of years ago. The front office has upgraded several key areas, particularly the pitching staff, which now features veteran arms Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs at the top of the rotation. Severino, formerly with the Yankees, brings a high ceiling when healthy, with a powerful fastball-slider combo and valuable postseason experience. Springs, a left-hander with deceptive delivery and a deep changeup, adds balance and reliability. Along with Joey Estes, who is expected to get the nod in the opener against the Cubs, this trio gives Sacramento something the team lacked in recent seasons: a rotation capable of competing every night. The bullpen has also improved, with Jose Leclerc taking on the closer role. Leclerc has been effective in early appearances, mixing velocity with a sharp slider to lock down the ninth inning. He’s supported by setup men like Zach Jackson and Kirby Snead, both of whom have shown flashes of consistency in early-season outings.

For a team that lost so many games in the late innings last season, stabilizing the back end of the bullpen has been a critical priority—and so far, it looks like they’ve taken a step in the right direction. Offensively, Sacramento is still very much a work in progress, though there are reasons for optimism. Tyler Soderstrom is emerging as a key contributor behind the plate and at DH, offering left-handed power and improving plate discipline. Young infielder Jacob Wilson, the club’s top prospect, has already made an impression with solid defense and timely hitting. Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers remain central pieces in the middle of the lineup, though they’ll need to cut down on strikeouts to be more impactful. The lineup won’t scare many teams just yet, but it’s scrappier than expected and capable of producing when the pressure is off. Defensively, the Athletics have been better than advertised. The infield, led by Wilson and veteran Jace Peterson, has been clean, and the outfield has managed to limit mistakes despite some concerns about range. Sutter Health Park’s unique dimensions play into their favor, offering home-field quirks the team is still learning to exploit. In summary, the Sacramento Athletics are far from a finished product, but they are no longer the league’s laughingstock. Backed by an energized new fanbase and bolstered by offseason upgrades, they’re poised to compete at home—even if their long-term outlook remains centered on development. Against a Cubs team still finding its own footing, this series offers the A’s a golden chance to build early-season momentum in front of a city eager to embrace its newest franchise.