Short Description: The Detroit Tigers head to California for a unique series against the Oakland Athletics, featuring a homecoming for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Get ready for late-night baseball action and a compelling pitching matchup.
Baseball fans, get ready for some late-night action as the Detroit Tigers embark on a unique road trip to face the Oakland Athletics. This isn’t your typical West Coast swing, as the Athletics are temporarily playing in West Sacramento, California, marking a first for the Tigers in team history. The three-game series, running from Monday, August 25th, through Wednesday, August 27th, promises some intriguing storylines, especially for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, who grew up a die-hard Oakland Athletics fan in Northern California, will have a rather surreal experience facing his childhood team in a new setting. While it won’t be the familiar Oakland Coliseum, Skubal has fond memories of Sutter Health Park from his youth. He even mentioned, “I’ve been to that stadium as a kid. I went to games growing up there, too. I don’t remember what it looks like at all from my memory. I remember it being on the water, but that’s about it. It’ll be fun. I got a lot of family that lives closer to Sacramento than Oakland, so I’ll get to see a lot of them.” This personal connection adds an extra layer of excitement to the series, especially considering Skubal’s recent struggles against the A’s, having given up 19 hits and 10 earned runs in his last three starts against them.
The Tigers are coming into this series hot, boasting an American League-best 78-54 record and a commanding 10½ game lead in their division. They just wrapped up a strong 5-1 week, including a sweep of the Houston Astros. The Athletics, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the AL West with a 60-72 record, though they are still a good distance ahead of the AL-worst Chicago White Sox. Despite the Athletics’ struggles, the Tigers aren’t taking anything for granted, especially with Skubal looking to reverse his personal trend against his former favorite team.
Fans can catch all the action on FanDuel Sports Network, with all three games kicking off at 10:05 p.m. ET. The pitching matchups are set to be compelling, with Skubal facing J.T. Ginn on Monday, followed by Charlie Morton on Tuesday, and All-Star Casey Mize closing out the series on Wednesday. It’s a chance for the Tigers to solidify their divisional lead and for Skubal to make a statement against his past. This series is more than just a few games; it’s a blend of professional ambition and personal history playing out on the diamond.