As the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics gear up for a three-game series starting Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, both teams find themselves in the throes of disappointing seasons. The Braves, with a 39-50 record, are nursing a four-game losing streak that includes a recent sweep by the Baltimore Orioles at home. Meanwhile, the Athletics enter the series at 37-55, having dropped two straight games and going 4-6 in their last ten outings.
The matchup pits two of the six worst teams in Major League Baseball against each other, spotlighting struggles on both sides. The Braves, once boasting one of the league's most potent offenses, now rank 20th with a 96 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), slightly below league average. Conversely, the Athletics hold a 101 wRC+, placing them 14th, with a notable edge in power hitting — they have out-slugged Atlanta 113 to 92 in home runs this season.
Tuesday's game features a pitching duel between the Braves' 20-year-old rookie Didier Fuentes and the Athletics' veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs. Fuentes, thrust into the rotation due to injuries that sidelined four opening-day starters, has had a challenging start to his major league career. In his three starts this season, he carries an 0-2 record with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP, having struck out 10 batters over 12 2/3 innings. Opponents have hit a robust .346 against him, and he has struggled to pitch deep into games, failing to get past the fourth inning in his last two outings. His most recent appearance was on July 2 against the Los Angeles Angels, where he lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits.
Baseball America recently recognized Fuentes as one of the rising star prospects of the first half of the season, but also highlighted the "trial-by-fire" nature of his current role given the Braves' injury woes. The young right-hander's ability to extend his outings will be crucial if Atlanta hopes to halt their losing skid against a struggling Athletics lineup.
On the other side, Jeffrey Springs brings more consistency to the mound for Oakland. The 32-year-old lefty holds a 6-6 record with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 18 games (16 starts), striking out 79 and walking 37 in 97 1/3 innings. Springs has been arguably the Athletics' most reliable pitcher this season, especially since May, posting a 3.26 ERA over 12 starts. He has recorded eight quality starts and has pitched at least five innings in six consecutive outings. His recent form includes a 2.97 ERA over six games in the past month, reflecting a solid stretch of performance.
Springs' last outing on July 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays saw him pitch 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs. His ability to consistently eat innings and keep the Athletics competitive will be tested against an Atlanta lineup that has shown flashes but remains inconsistent.
Looking beyond Tuesday, the series continues with Mitch Spence (2-4, 4.06 ERA) scheduled to start for the Athletics against Braves' Bryce Elder (2-6, 5.92 ERA) on Wednesday. Spence has been effective since transitioning from bullpen to rotation, maintaining a 3.64 ERA over six starts, often going five innings per outing. Elder, however, has struggled, posting a 6.94 ERA over his last seven starts, including an 8.07 ERA since June 1. His 16 home runs allowed in 73 innings pose a concern, especially in a hitter-friendly park like Sacramento.
The series finale on Thursday promises a potential pitcher's duel between JP Sears (7-7, 4.76 ERA) for Oakland and Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.93 ERA) for Atlanta. Sears has rebounded impressively from a rough May, allowing just three earned runs over his past three starts totaling 16 2/3 innings, including 11 2/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees and Giants. Strider, returning from the injured list in May, has shown encouraging form, going at least six innings in five of his last six starts and consistently limiting runs.
Offensively, the Braves have been led by Ronald Acuña Jr., who was hot through June but has cooled off in early July, batting just .150 over six games. The Athletics' Matt Olson has been a standout this month, boasting a 202 wRC+ with two homers and six RBIs, while Sean Murphy has also contributed significantly with a 191 wRC+ and multiple home runs.
Emerging players to watch include the Athletics' Denzel Clarke, who has amassed a homer, a triple, and two doubles recently against the Giants, and former Braves prospect Shea Langeliers, who has hit two doubles and a home run since returning from the injured list.
Adding a layer of narrative intrigue to the series is Lawrence Butler, the Athletics' Atlanta-born player, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Thursday, coinciding with bobblehead night. Butler, who has been focused on making the All-Star Game, can potentially use this series to play with renewed freedom and perhaps rekindle his form from last season when he became a franchise cornerstone.
The Braves' road woes continue, as they hold a 15-28 away record, while the Athletics have struggled at home with a 16-29 mark. However, when the Athletics have more hits than their opponents, their record soars to 32-9, indicating that clean, consistent hitting is key to their success.
With both teams desperate to turn their seasons around, this series offers a vital opportunity. According to MLB Network and NBCS-CA, first pitch is set for 10:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, with streaming and radio coverage available through usual outlets. Fans can expect a fiercely competitive series as these two struggling clubs battle for momentum in the second half of the season.
