It’s the Athletics versus the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 16, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 6:40 PM ET
- Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
- TV Channels: NBC Sports California, MLB Tampa Bay Rays
- Streaming: Rays.tv
- League Package: MLB Extra Innings®
How to Watch Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays on September 16, 2026
You can watch the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Athletics live on DIRECTV on Rays.tv, NBC Sports California and MLB Tampa Bay Rays on September 16, 2026 at 6:40 PM ET.
Athletics (61-90) at Tampa Bay Rays (91-59) — Game Preview
The Athletics (61-90) visit the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays (91-59) at Tropicana Field on September 16, 2026. The Athletics arrive with a shaky 5.40 team ERA, while the Rays have gotten sharper work from their pitching staff at a 3.76 mark. Catcher Shea Langeliers has given the Athletics some pop this season, hitting .266 with 23 home runs and 54 RBIs, but Tampa Bay counters with Junior Caminero, who has launched 41 home runs and driven in 96 runs while batting .279 to anchor the middle of the Rays’ order.
Jeff McNeil is hitting .267 for the Athletics, while Tampa Bay’s Chandler Simpson has been just as steady at the top of the order, batting .308 with a .337 on-base percentage. The Rays lead the American League outright, and the gap in the standings is stark, with the Athletics sitting 30.5 games back in the league.
Regional Coverage
NBC Sports California, MLB Tampa Bay Rays
Streaming
Rays.tv
League Packages
What Time is the Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays Game Today?
The Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays game starts at 6:40 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays?
You can watch Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays on Rays.tv, your local regional sports network, NBC Sports California and MLB Tampa Bay Rays, and MLB Extra Innings®.
Athletics Channel on DIRECTV
Athletics fans can watch on NBC Sports California (Channel 698).
Tampa Bay Rays Channel on DIRECTV
Tampa Bay Rays fans can watch on MLB Tampa Bay Rays (Channel 652).
Players to Watch: Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Athletics
Jeff McNeil — 2B. Second baseman Jeff McNeil has been a steadying presence in a rough season, batting .267 with a .315 on-base percentage. His .369 slugging percentage adds a bit of pop to an otherwise contact-oriented approach for the Athletics.
Shea Langeliers — C. Shea Langeliers has given the Athletics a jolt of power this season, launching 23 home runs and driving in 54 runs from behind the plate. He is hitting .266 on the year, adding some thump to a lineup that hasn’t had much of it.
Lawrence Butler — RF. Across 143 games, Lawrence Butler has given the Athletics rare consistency, hitting 16 home runs with 58 RBIs. His .384 slugging percentage and .318 on-base mark make him a steady middle-of-the-order threat alongside Langeliers.
Tampa Bay Rays
Junior Caminero — 3B. Forty-one home runs and 96 RBIs later, Junior Caminero has established himself as the primary power source in the Rays’ lineup. He is hitting .279 on the season, numbers that have carried Tampa Bay’s offense through the stretch run.
Chandler Simpson — LF. Chandler Simpson sets the tone at the top of the Rays’ order, hitting .308 with a .337 on-base percentage. His modest .359 slugging percentage points to a contact-and-speed approach rather than one built on power.
Jonathan Aranda — 1B. Jonathan Aranda has been a steady complement to Caminero in the middle of the Rays’ order, hitting .278 with 21 home runs and 89 RBIs over 146 games. His .361 on-base percentage gives Tampa Bay another difficult out in the lineup.
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