The Athletics’ April 11–13 series against the New York Mets at Sutter Health Park presented the opportunity to mark a significant chapter in the team’s transitional journey. While the club didn’t get the start to the season they had hoped for, they appeared to be adjusting and improving with every game and every series. First the Cubs, then the Rockies, and then the Padres; they’ve been up and down in the win-loss columns, but they’ve been improving. This series provided a further glimpse into their evolving identity, and while everyone always hopes for a sweep, notable improvement would’ve been realized if they’d won two out of three.
The series opener saw the Mets edge out the A’s in a closely contested game that truly went down to the last swing of the bat. Griffin Canning earned the win for New York, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing four earned runs. Pete Alonso continued his hot streak, contributing three RBIs, including a homer in the eighth inning, and raising his National League-leading batting average to .378. Despite a late rally, the A’s fell short, with JP Sears taking the loss in his return to face his former team. 7-6 is a disappointing way to have it end on a night at home, but it was still a sign of improvement.
The A’s bounced back in the second game of the series. A strong pitching performance from their starter, combined with timely hitting, led to a 3–1 victory. This win marked the A’s second home victory of the season, providing a morale boost as they continue to adjust to their new surroundings. It also proved the A’s can compete. They logged wins on the road in Denver, at home versus San Diego, and now versus the New York Mets. This is absolutely a sign of improvement for a franchise that finished the 2024 season with a record of 69-93. In 2025, the club already has a record of 6-10 (6-9 at the end of this particular game), and while that places them at the bottom of the American League west standings, they’re only one win and 3.5 games behind Houston. The Astros won the World Series in 2022 and are only one win shy of .500 right now. Coming out of game 2 of this series, it really felt like the A’s were figuring things out, improving and ready to turn the corner.
Then came game 3. The series finale was dominated by the Mets. Kodai Senga delivered a stellar performance on the mound, pitching seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just two walks, leading the Mets to an astounding 8–0 victory over the A’s. Senga became the first Mets starter this season to pitch into the seventh inning and has now gone two consecutive starts without surrendering a run. The Mets’ offense broke open the game late, aided by a pair of A’s defensive errors. Luis Severino, facing his former team, allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts but took the loss. Fans were left stunned. What happened? There was zero offensive production. The A’s appeared to be right back there they started the season, searching for.. everything!
Off the field, the A’s continue to adapt to life in Sacramento. The team has made efforts to upgrade the stadium and accommodate their needs, including investing in a new clubhouse and improving shared spaces. Attendance has increased by about 50% compared to their last season in Oakland, although numbers remain mixed; a recent game drew only 9,632 fans. Despite the challenges, the A’s are committed to making Sacramento feel like home during this transitional phase, but in order to capitalize on that, they need to win games.
As the A’s continue the season in Sacramento, they face the dual challenges of competing at a high level and adjusting to a new home. The April 11–13 series against the Mets highlighted both the potential and the obstacles of this transition. With a mix of promising performances and areas needing improvement, the A’s are focused on building a competitive team while laying the groundwork for their future in Las Vegas.; however, the next measurable marker of success requires winning at least two out of three at home, and never being shut out, if not keeping it close and tight into the final inning.
The team’s next series will be on the road against the Chicago White Sox, starting April 15.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for two decades and has been covering professional baseball since 2005. All images taken by Jason Reed, Robert Longan, and Ahsan Awan for American Presswire and ©2025 Jason Reed, Conrad Melendez, and David Barpal for their specific unique images for American Presswire and subject to unlimited use under license unless otherwise noted. Jason Reed can be found on X as @fieldofdd and on Instagram as @fieldofdaydreams. Conrad Melendez can be found on X as @bionicslugg and on Instagram as @cam_spectrum. David Barpal can be found on X as @dbarpal and a selection of his work can be found on Instagram by searching for his name.