Game #97, Athletics vs. Nationals Game Thread

The “Second Half” of the 2026 MLB season begins tonight for the Athletics.  They’ll pick up at home in West Sacramento against the Washington Nationals at 6:40 p.m. After finishing the first half on a nine-game losing streak, the team hopes to get off on the right foot against a Nationals team which sits in fourth place in the National League East with a 48-49 record.

There ill be two new faces in the A’s lineup tonight.  Starting at second base is newly acquired infielder Donovan Walton, a seven-year veteran who has made short stops in Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Anaheim. He’ll be batting seventh in Mark Kotsay’s lineup. Tommy White will man first base tonight for the A’s.  He’s making his MLB debut, after being called up from AAA Las Vegas (officially) today.

Taking the mound for the A’s, making his tenth start of the season is 23-year-old lefty Gage Jump. Jump is 3-4 on the season with an ERA of 3.51 in 48.2 innings of work. He’ll face off against 25-year-old righty Cade Cavalli for the Nats. Cavalli is 5-4 with a 3.83 ERA in twenty starts. He’s struck out 110 batters in 98.2 innings. 

Cavalli will face off against this lineup for the A’s who will be without Nick Kurtz and Zack Gelof who went on the Injured List (IL) before the break:

Jump will go up against this lineup for Blake Butera’s Nationals:

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast