Tigers Begin Sacramento Series Against Athletics
The Detroit Tigers are hitting the road in an unusual way this week. Instead of heading to their typical California destinations like Anaheim or Oakland, the team is traveling to West Sacramento for the very first time in franchise history. That’s where the Athletics, in the middle of their relocation process from Oakland to Las Vegas, are hosting a three-game series. The first pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. Eastern on Monday, August 25, and this matchup already carries plenty of intrigue.
The Tigers arrive in Sacramento with momentum on their side. They’ve just wrapped up a strong week, going 5-1 after sweeping the Houston Astros and taking two out of three from the Kansas City Royals. Their only slip came in a high-scoring 10–8 loss to Kansas City, which kept them from a perfect stretch. Still, at 78-54, Detroit owns the best record in the American League and holds a commanding 10½-game lead in the AL Central. FanGraphs has even placed their division title chances at a staggering 99.8 percent.
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Meanwhile, the Athletics have had a much rougher year. Sitting at 60-72, they’re at the bottom of the AL West standings, though they’ve managed to stay ahead of the struggling Chicago White Sox. What Oakland lacks in the standings, however, it makes up for in power. The A’s have hit 180 home runs so far, ranking them among the league’s top teams in long balls. Shea Langeliers has been leading the way with 28 homers, while young hitter Tyler Soderstrom has been a bright spot recently, collecting key hits over his last ten games.
The pitching matchup for the opener is a study in contrasts. Detroit is sending out ace left-hander Tarik Skubal, who has been dominant all season with an 11-3 record, a 2.32 ERA, and 200 strikeouts. On the other side, the Athletics are countering with J.T. Ginn, who’s had a tougher go at 2-5 with a 4.95 ERA. Advantage clearly tilts toward the Tigers here, and with Skubal on the mound, expectations are high that Detroit can set the tone for the series early.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will follow Skubal with veteran right-hander Charlie Morton on Tuesday, and then Casey Mize, a former No. 1 overall pick, will get the nod Wednesday. The Athletics haven’t finalized their full rotation beyond the opener, though young right-hander Luis Morales is expected to pitch the finale.
For Tigers fans, the late start times might mean some late nights, but the stakes are worth it. Detroit has a favorable schedule down the stretch and doesn’t face another first-place team the rest of the way. The only real challenge could come from the Cleveland Guardians, who still have six head-to-head games left against the Tigers in September.
As it stands, though, Detroit is in prime position to not just take the division but also enter October with plenty of confidence. And it all starts tonight in Sacramento, where Skubal and the Tigers are ready to open this unique three-game set against the A’s.
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