The Oakland Athletics take on the Los Angeles Angels on June 26, 2026, at 9:38 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium, as both teams look to gain traction in the competitive AL West division.
Why it matters: This game is a continuation of a season-long rivalry, with the Athletics currently leading the season series 5-3. Both teams are struggling to stay relevant in the playoff race, making this matchup particularly important.
- The Athletics (39-42) are third in the AL West, trailing the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
- The Angels (34-48) sit in last place, needing a strong performance to keep their slim postseason hopes alive.
Driving the news: The Athletics are coming off a much-needed 9-6 victory against the San Francisco Giants, ending a four-game losing streak. They aim to build on this momentum against their in-state rivals.
- Oakland's recent win improved their record to 39-42, tying them for second place with the Astros and Rangers.
- The Angels have won four of their last five games, including a recent series against the Baltimore Orioles.
State of play: Tonight's game features two promising young pitchers: J.T. Ginn for the Athletics and Walbert Urena for the Angels.
- Ginn has a 5-4 record with a 3.16 ERA over 14 starts this season.
- Urena, also 5-5, has been impressive with a 2.41 ERA in 14 appearances, showing consistent performance on the mound.
The big picture: Both teams have faced injuries that have impacted their rosters significantly. The Angels are missing star outfielder Mike Trout, who is on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring issue.
- Trout's absence is felt deeply as he is a key player, leading the team in several offensive categories before his injury.
- In addition to Trout, the Angels have multiple players on the injured list, affecting their depth and performance.
What they're saying: Analysts have mixed predictions for this matchup, with some favoring the Athletics due to their recent form.
- "The Athletics have shown resilience, especially after their last win, which could give them the boost they need," an analyst noted.
- Conversely, others believe the Angels could leverage their home-field advantage, stating, "The Angels have been strong at home, and Urena's recent performances have been stellar against the A's."
By the numbers: Several key statistics highlight the strengths and weaknesses of both teams heading into this game.
- The Athletics lead the league with 98 home runs, ranking 11th in the majors.
- The Angels average 4.56 runs per game, placing them 13th in MLB, but struggle with a .717 OPS, ranking 17th.
- Both teams have experienced ups and downs in their pitching stats, with the Angels' bullpen showing improvement recently.
Between the lines: The matchup between Ginn and Urena is particularly intriguing, as both pitchers have had success against their respective opponents.
- Ginn's last outing against the Angels resulted in a loss, where he allowed four runs in 5.1 innings.
- Urena has been dominant against the Athletics, not allowing any runs in his previous two starts against them.
What's next: Following this game, the Athletics and Angels will continue their three-game series, with both teams looking to gain ground in the AL West.
- The next matchup is scheduled for June 27, 2026, at Angel Stadium, with both teams eager to capitalize on any momentum gained from tonight's game.
- Fans can catch the action live on ABTV and stream it on Fubo, as both teams vie for a much-needed victory.
As the AL West race heats up, tonight's game will likely be a thrilling encounter between two teams desperate to turn their seasons around.