The Sacramento Athletics return to Sutter Health Park on Friday, August 28, to open a home series against the Baltimore Orioles in a 9:40 p.m. ET first pitch. Baltimore will send right-hander Brandon Young to the mound, while Sacramento's starter has yet to be announced. It's a late-summer regular season matchup with playoff positioning implications potentially on the line for both clubs, and home fans will want to be in their seats early for this one.
Probable Pitchers: Brandon Young Starts for Baltimore
The biggest confirmed piece of this pitching puzzle belongs to the Orioles. Brandon Young gets the ball for Baltimore on Friday night. Because detailed ERA and win-loss data for Young are not available at this time, it's difficult to project exactly what Sacramento hitters will be up against — but any time the opposition sends an arm you haven't seen much of, the Athletics' lineup needs to work at-bats and let the scouting report do its job.
On the Sacramento side, the A's have not yet confirmed a starter. That's something to monitor leading up to first pitch. Whether Sacramento rolls out a veteran arm or turns to a younger option, the home crowd at Sutter Health Park will be ready to back whoever takes that mound.
Keys to Watch in Friday's Game
- Identify Young early: With limited public data on Brandon Young, the Athletics' lineup will need to stay disciplined in the first two innings and force him to work. Pitch counts matter against unfamiliar arms.
- Sacramento's starter announcement: Until the A's name their pitcher, there's a significant variable on the home side. Keep an eye on the official lineup card — the starter sets the tone for the entire game plan.
- Home field energy: Sutter Health Park has proven to be a genuine advantage for Sacramento. A Friday night crowd will be loud, and the Athletics have shown they can feed off that atmosphere.
- Bullpen depth: With one starter still TBD and another carrying limited advance data, both bullpens could play an outsized role in how this game shakes out late.
How to Watch and Listen
Friday's game between the Athletics and Orioles can be seen on NBCSCA locally, with MASN carrying the broadcast for Baltimore-area viewers. Radio listeners can tune in to Talk 650 KSTE or A's Cast in English, with Spanish-language coverage available on KVMX 92.1/105.5. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Without a confirmed starter on Sacramento's end and limited stats available on Young, this preview carries more uncertainty than most. What we do know: the Athletics are at home, the crowd at Sutter Health Park will bring the noise on a Friday night, and Baltimore will need to beat both the A's lineup and the environment. Lean toward Sacramento to take the opener on the strength of home field and a lineup that knows how to grind out at-bats against pitchers they haven't seen. Athletics 4, Orioles 2.
