Local Athletics fans can watch games on NBC Sports California, available through select live TV providers including DIRECTV on channel 698 (streaming, satellite). Out-of-market fans can access NBC Sports California through the DIRECTV Sports Pack, or watch via an MLB.TV subscription.
In their first season away from Oakland after 57 years, the Athletics began their temporary stay in West Sacramento as they await a future move to Las Vegas. Despite the uncertainty, the team is starting to form a new identity built around a rising young core.
That group is led by Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, and Tyler Soderstrom — three players with franchise-changing potential. While the Athletics again missed the postseason, they improved their record for the third straight year and scored their most runs since 2021. With momentum building, a return to playoff contention may not be far off.
Check out the Athletics 2026 TV schedule right here to make sure you never miss a moment of their promising season.
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Founding Season: 1901 Division: American League West Home Ballpark: Sutter Health Park for 2025-27 World Series Titles: 9 (1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, 1930, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1989) 2025 Finish: Did not make the postseason
2026 Athletics Schedule & TV Info
The Athletics open the 2026 season with one of the toughest stretches in baseball. They begin on the road against the World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays, then travel to Atlanta to face a Braves team poised for a bounce-back year, before returning home to take on division rival Houston.
The challenge doesn’t let up from there, with back-to-back series in New York against the Yankees and Mets, followed by a four-game set with the Texas Rangers. All six opponents are legitimate playoff contenders, making this a daunting early test.
If the Athletics can hold their own during this stretch, it could turn heads across the league and signal that this young team is ready to take a step forward.
Explore the full Athletics schedule including where to watch below.
The Athletics finished 76-86, which was good for fourth in the American League West. It was their most wins since 2021 and their third straight season of improvement.
After a brutal May that saw them go 7-21, the Athletics finished with a winning record in the last three months of the season. And that is largely due to their trio of young stars.
Nick Kurtz delivered a dominant rookie season, hitting .290 with 36 home runs, 26 doubles and 86 RBIs in just 117 games. He earned Rookie of the Year honors, a Silver Slugger and finished 12th in AL MVP voting, with more than half of his hits going for extra bases.
Jacob Wilson, the son of former MLB shortstop Jack Wilson, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Despite injuries late in the season, he hit .311 with 151 hits and earned an All-Star nod, striking out just 39 times. With his wrist now healthy, he’ll be a key table-setter in the lineup.
Tyler Soderstrom also broke out, batting .276 with 25 home runs, 34 doubles and 93 RBIs. Shea Langeliers added 31 home runs and 32 doubles, while Brent Rooker once again topped the 30-homer mark, giving the Athletics a powerful offensive core.
Pitching remains the bigger question. Jeffrey Springs led the staff with 11 wins and a 4.11 ERA, while Luis Severino didn’t fully meet expectations. However, 22-year-old Luis Morales showed promise with a 3.14 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 48 innings across 10 appearances.
Despite missing the playoffs, the Athletics ranked top 10 in home runs, OPS and on-base percentage, while finishing second in doubles and top five in hits. With that kind of offensive firepower, improved pitching could make them a sneaky contender in the AL West.
How to Watch the Athletics in 2026
For the days you can’t make it to the ballpark, get the best at-home experience with DIRECTV. Below are a few networks where you can watch the A’s baseball games.
With a young core emerging and expectations rising, these are the key players who could define the Athletics’ 2026 season.
Nick Kurtz, First Base
Kurtz didn’t debut until late April, but he quickly took over, winning Rookie of the Year while leading all rookies with 36 home runs and a 1.002 OPS. His breakout moment came on July 25, when he went 6-for-6 with four home runs, a double, a single, eight RBIs and six runs scored.
The four home runs set a rookie record, and his 19 total bases tied the MLB record for a single game.
Kurtz looks every bit like a franchise cornerstone and the type of elite hitter who can take over a series.
Jacob Wilson, Shortstop
For much of the year, Wilson was on pace to win the American League batting title. He finished the year batting .311 with a .355 on-base percentage. He didn’t hit for a ton of power, but he also rarely struck out. In 523 plate appearances, he struck out just 39 times compared to 27 walks.
He hit .329 before the All-Star break to earn his first selection but was limited to 38 games in the second half due to injury. Fully healthy, he’ll be a key bat in the middle of the lineup.
Tyler Soderstrom, Left Field
In his first full MLB season, Soderstrom impressed with 25 home runs, 34 doubles, 93 RBIs and a .276 average. Alongside Kurtz and Wilson, he forms a dangerous offensive trio capable of consistently pressuring opposing pitchers.
Brent Rooker, Designated Hitter
Rooker has quietly become one of the most consistent power hitters in the league. Now 30, he has hit at least 30 home runs in each of his three full MLB seasons—all with the Athletics. In 2025, he set career highs in hits, doubles and walks, earning his second All-Star nod.
Luis Morales, Pitcher
Morales appeared in just 10 games last season, but it was enough for the 23-year-old to crack the top 12 in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. He went 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA and will get a chance for some major league reps from the jump this season. If Morales can harness his control even just a touch, big things await for the right-hander.
Leo De Vries, Prospect
The Athletics’ top prospect and the No. 4 prospect in baseball, De Vries arrived in a blockbuster trade with the Padres. The 19-year-old switch hitter brings impact potential from both sides of the plate, highlighted by a strong Double-A playoff showing (8-for-19 with three home runs).
With Wilson at shortstop, De Vries could slot in at second or third base depending on team needs.
Gage Jump, Prospect
Ranked No. 57 overall, Jump is one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game. He features a mid-90s fastball, a sharp low-80s slider, and a high-spin curveball that misses bats.
With pitching a clear area of need, a strong start in the minors could put Jump on a fast track to the majors in 2026.
Athletics Rivalries
The A’s don’t have the fiercest rivalries in the game at the moment, but there are still some California feuds they’ve maintained through the years.
As two members of the Bay Area, the Athletics and the Giants had one of the closest rivalries by proximity in the majors. But with the Athletics’ temporary move to West Sacramento and their eventual move to Las Vegas on the horizon, the Bay Bridge Series is set to go long distance.
The two California teams played each other plenty in the postseason from the 70s through the 00s. And while they’re both a far cry from their historical greatness, there’s enough regional rivalry to keep some intensity between the fan bases. Entering this season, the Athletics probably have the roster advantage. But as they chase a postseason berth, they can’t overlook any opponent.
Date
Opponent
Time
Mon, 5/18
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Tue, 5/19
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Wed, 5/20
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Thu, 5/21
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Thu, 6/18
vs Los Angeles Angels
9:40 p.m.
Fri, 6/19
vs Los Angeles Angels
9:40 p.m.
Sat, 6/20
vs Los Angeles Angels
10:05 p.m.
Sun, 6/21
vs Los Angeles Angels
4:05 p.m.
Fri, 6/26
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Sat, 6/27
at Los Angeles Angels
9:38 p.m.
Sun, 6/28
at Los Angeles Angels
3:15 p.m.
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