The Sacramento Athletics open their Friday night series at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026, hosting the Detroit Tigers in a 9:40 p.m. ET first pitch. Jeffrey Springs gets the ball for Sacramento against Detroit's Casey Mize in what shapes up as a genuine pitching duel between two arms with legitimate big-league pedigrees. With the regular season deep into its second half, every game at this stage carries real weight — roster evaluation, positioning, momentum — and Sacramento's home faithful will be watching closely to see how this group performs under the lights.

Probable Pitchers: Jeffrey Springs vs. Casey Mize

Springs draws the start for the Athletics in a role that puts him squarely in the spotlight. The left-hander has the stuff to miss bats and work deep into games when his command is on. Sacramento will need him to eat innings and keep Detroit's lineup manageable, particularly in the middle of the order where the Tigers carry genuine danger.

Mize gets the nod for Detroit. The right-hander has always had the arsenal to be a frontline starter, and when he's commanding his sinker and splitter, he can be a difficult puzzle to solve. Sacramento's lineup will need to be disciplined early and not expand the zone against a pitcher who can generate weak contact in bunches.

Sacramento Athletics Starting Lineup

• Nick Kurtz, 1B
• Jacob Wilson, DH
• Jonah Heim, C
• Tyler Soderstrom, LF
• Tommy White, 3B
• Lawrence Butler, RF
• Henry Bolte, CF
• Jeff McNeil, 2B
• Alika Williams, SS

Detroit Tigers Starting Lineup

• Kevin McGonigle, 3B
• Gleyber Torres, DH
• Dillon Dingler, C
• Riley Greene, LF
• Hao-Yu Lee, 2B
• Spencer Torkelson, 1B
• Max Clark, CF
• Javier Báez, SS
• Ben Malgeri, RF

Keys to Watch for the Athletics

• Nick Kurtz leading off: Kurtz at the top of the order sets the tone. His ability to work counts and get on base early against Mize will dictate how much pressure Sacramento can put on Detroit from the jump.
• Soderstrom and White in the heart of the order: Batting fourth and fifth, Tyler Soderstrom and Tommy White represent Sacramento's biggest power threat. If Mize leaves anything over the middle of the plate, those two have the pop to make him pay.
• Springs limiting Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene: Torres brings veteran experience at the plate hitting second, and Greene has the bat speed to hurt a left-hander who doesn't locate. Springs keeping those two in check is the key pitching matchup of the night.
• Lawrence Butler's at-bats: Hitting sixth, Butler has the tools to be a difference-maker in spots where the lineup needs a jolt. Watch how he handles Mize's off-speed stuff.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring affair given the pitching matchups. Springs has the ability to keep Detroit's lineup off-balance long enough for Sacramento's offense to scratch out a lead, and the Athletics' home environment at Sutter Health Park has a way of energizing this group. Look for Soderstrom or White to come up with a big hit in the middle innings. Athletics win a tight one, 4-2.

Catch the game on NBCSCA or listen on Talk 650 KSTE. Spanish-language coverage is available on KVMX 92.1/105.5.