The Athletics have lost more at home than any American League team during the first two years of their temporary stay in West Sacramento.
And this week they were eliminated from playoff contention early, moving their streak without reaching the postseason to six years. Their last appearance was after the pandemic-shortened 60-game campaign in 2020.
The A’s were officially eliminated Tuesday when they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park, dropping their home record over the past two years to 62-90, the worst in the AL during that span. They are two years into their planned three-year stay in West Sacramento before the opening of their Las Vegas ballpark in 2028. The team was 26-45 at home this season before Wednesday.
The A’s (59-88) came into Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Toronto with easily the worst run differential in baseball, minus-187, trailed only by the Colorado Rockies at minus-142. Only the Rockies had a worse home record (55-98) over the last two seasons.
The Athletics this season have averaged 9,976 fans per game at the minor league ballpark with a fan capacity of roughly 13,800. Attendance is up slightly from their 9,487 average in 2025, their first in the capital region following the departure from Oakland after 57 seasons.
The A’s and the Angels (55-90) as of Wednesday were the only American League teams eliminated from the playoffs. The bottom of the season fell out in July and August when the A’s went 13-39. The San Francisco Giants and Rockies are the only National League teams already eliminated.
The A’s have been hurt by injuries throughout the year. Outfielder Lawrence Butler was the only player in Wednesday’s starting lineup that also started opening night.
Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler prepares to make a catch in the outfield against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday. Cary Edmondson Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Ace Luis Severino (shoulder), All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz (thumb), shortstop Jacob Wilson (left shoulder), left fielder Tyler Soderstrom (hip) and former Silver Slugger Brent Rooker (knee) are all currently on the 60-day injured list. All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers (knee) is on the 10-day injured list and could return before the season ends Sept. 27. He tore his meniscus in July.
The A’s told season ticket holders before their first season in 2025 that home playoff games weren’t guaranteed given the logistical challenges of Sutter Health Park — though the point was moot because the team didn’t qualify. That changed this year, with the team saying postseason games would have been played in West Sacramento had the team made it.
The Sacramento Bee
Chris Biderman covers sports and local news for The Sacramento Bee since joining in August 2018 to cover the San Francisco 49ers. He previously spent time with the Associated Press and USA Today Sports Media Group, and has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Athletic and on MLB.com. The Santa Rosa native graduated with a degree in journalism from the Ohio State University.