The Athletics head to St. Petersburg on Wednesday, September 16, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Brady Basso gets the ball for Sacramento, squaring off against Nick Martinez for Tampa Bay in a regular-season matchup with September stakes on the line. A's fans back home can catch the action on NBCSCA or tune in on Talk 650 KSTE. This one carries weight — every game down the stretch matters, and the Athletics need to take care of business on the road.

Athletics at Rays: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Game Preview

Pitching Matchup: Basso vs. Martinez

Brady Basso draws the start for the Athletics in what is a significant September road assignment. The left-hander will be tasked with keeping a Rays lineup off the board in a ballpark that has historically favored pitchers. Basso's ability to eat innings and limit free passes will be the primary factor in whether Sacramento stays competitive deep into this game.

On the Tampa Bay side, Nick Martinez takes the hill. Martinez is a veteran presence with the experience to work through an Athletics lineup and make adjustments as the game moves along. Sacramento's hitters will need to stay disciplined and look for pitches they can drive rather than chasing out of the zone.

Keys to Watch for the Athletics

• Basso's command: Walks and extra-base hits are killers in a road environment. Basso needs to establish his fastball early and keep Tampa Bay's hitters from sitting on secondary pitches.
• Offensive discipline: Martinez has enough experience to exploit impatient lineups. The A's need to grind at-bats, run up pitch counts, and force Martinez to work.
• Bullpen management: September rosters are expanded, and Sacramento's depth in the 'pen should give the coaching staff options if Basso runs into trouble in the middle innings. Smart usage will matter.
• Road focus: The Athletics are away from Sutter Health Park and in a dome environment. Staying sharp mentally and executing fundamentals — baserunning, defense, situational hitting — will separate a good result from a bad one.

Prediction

This is a competitive matchup on paper with two pitchers capable of keeping the game close into the late innings. Tropicana Field is never an easy place to win, and Tampa Bay will be motivated with September games carrying playoff implications for both clubs. That said, if Basso is on and the A's offense can manufacture runs against Martinez, Sacramento has a real shot to steal one on the road. Expect a tight game decided in the seventh inning or later. Give the edge to the Athletics, 4-3, with the bullpen slamming the door late.