OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Athletics open farewell series in Oakland vs. Rangers

Sep 24, 2024, 8:13 AM

Oakland Athletics fans fill RingCentral Coliseum during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Ba...

(Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

(Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

The Athletics begin a three-day celebration of their 57 years in Oakland on Tuesday night when they open their final home series of the season, a three-game set against the defending champion Texas Rangers.

The A’s are set to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028. For the next three seasons, the team will play its home games in Sacramento, Calif., at Sutter Health Park, which holds around 14,000 fans.

Big crowds are expected to participate in the going-away party. With Thursday’s finale so sentimental, many have pushed for Mt. Davis, a 20,000-seat portion of the upper deck built to expand capacity for the NFL’s then-Oakland Raiders, to be opened. The game is already a sellout.

The Athletics drew their third-, sixth- and seventh-largest attendance numbers of the season for their series against the New York Yankees this past weekend, but those on hand saw three straight Oakland defeats. Fans did get to witness Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, a Northern California native, homer on Saturday and Sunday.

Coincidentally, the A’s attracted just 2,895 people — their smallest crowd of the season — when the Rangers were in town on May 6. Texas took three of four games during that visit.

Oakland (67-89) enters the series with Texas on a three-game skid, though it has already won 17 more games this season than it did all of last year (50-112).

A’s manager Mark Kotsay, who played for Oakland from 2004-07, is looking forward to Thursday’s finale.

“People have asked, ‘What are you going to feel or what’s the emotion going to be like?’ Until I go through it on Thursday, I really won’t be able to give you an honest answer,” Kotsay said. “There’s going to be a lot of emotion.”

The A’s will kick off their final Oakland series with right-hander Mitch Spence (8-9, 4.30 ERA) on the mound. The rookie has gone 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his past five starts, allowing eight runs in 26 2/3 innings.

That stretch included a start at Texas on Sept. 1, during which Spence allowed two runs over five innings. The 26-year-old is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the Rangers this season.

Getting scheduled for the last games in Oakland gives three Rangers who used to play for the A’s — catcher Jonah Heim, infielder Marcus Semien and lefty reliever Andrew Chafin — a chance to be on hand for the festivities.

Semien was the most impactful of the three during his stint in Oakland, finishing third in American League MVP balloting in 2019 as part of a six-year run as the A’s shortstop.

“I’m going to miss playing here. This is one of my favorite places to play,” said Semien, a San Francisco native. “Obviously I was a home player here, but coming back here I know my parents can be here, my siblings. My family always comes back for this trip, too. … I’ll never forget this place.”

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (11-8, 3.96) is scheduled to make his 13th career start against the A’s, his seventh at Oakland Coliseum, where he has gone 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA. Overall, he’s 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA lifetime against the Athletics.

–Field Level Media

Upcoming Oakland Athletics Schedule

  • Friday, September 20th-Sunday, September 22nd – vs. New York Yankees
  • Tuesday, September 24th-Thursday, September 26th – Texas Rangers
  • Friday, September 27th – Sunday, September 29th – @ Seattle Mariners
  • End of 2024 regular season

Upcoming 2025 MLB Offseason Dates

  • MLB free agency begins the day after the final World Series game
  • Players can sign contracts with new teams five days after the final World Series game
  • December 8-11th – MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX
  • February TBD – Pitchers & catchers report for Spring Training

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Newsletter

Oakland Athletics

MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Brent Rooker #25 of the Oakland Athletics poses for a portrait during ...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Brent Rooker named finalist for Hank Aaron Award

Oakland Athletics slugger Brent Rooker has been named a finalist for the 2024 Hank Aaron Award. Here are the rest of the nominees.

2 days ago

Brent Rooker #25 of the Oakland Athletics hits an RBI sacrifice fly ball in the bottom of the seven...

Frankie Cartoscelli

Following career season, Brent Rooker undergoes forearm surgery

Although Oakland Athletics slugger Brent Rooker had a career year in 2024, the 29-year-old was apparently playing through an injury.

3 days ago

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: Zack Gelof #20 of the Oakland Athletics blows a bubble running ...

Field Level Media

A’s conclude 2024 season with loss to Mariners

The Oakland Athletics ended the 2024 season with a loss on Sunday as the franchise looks towards a move to Sacramento.

10 days ago

A general view of the stadium signs before the Oakland Athletics play the Texas Rangers at the Oakl...

Amiliano Fragoso

Former A’s pitcher reflects on the final home series at The Oakland Coliseum

Former A's pitcher Trevor May joined the show Friday to discuss his feelings about the team's final home series at the Oakland Coliseum.

12 days ago

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics mascot, Stomper, waves to the crowd after...

Field Level Media

Oakland Athletics start season-ending series after emotional day

The Oakland Athletics will conclude the 2024 season this weekend against the now-eliminated Seattle Mariners.

13 days ago

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: The Oakland Athletics wave to the crowd after they beat the Tex...

Field Level Media

Athletics outlast Rangers in emotional Oakland farewell

The Oakland Athletics said goodbye to the Coliseum in winning fashion on Thursday by beating the Texas Rangers.

13 days ago

Athletics open farewell series in Oakland vs. Rangers