After rough opening series, Athletics take aim at host Braves

The Athletics will be seeking their first win of the season on Monday when they visit the Atlanta Braves to open a three-game interleague series.

The A's were swept in three games by the host Toronto Blue Jays, losing the final contest 5-2 after two one-run losses, the latter in 11 innings. Manager Mark Kotsay is convinced his team is on the right path.

"That's a real tough series to open up against the World Series team," Kotsay said of the Blue Jays, who fell in seven games to the champion Los Angeles Dodgers. "We were competitive in all three games. (Monday) is a new series against Atlanta, so we'll go to Atlanta and get this done."

The Braves won two of three from the visiting Kansas City Royals but lost the series finale 4-1 on Sunday.

The pitching matchup for the series opener features A's southpaw Jacob Lopez (7-7, 4.08 ERA in 2025) against Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder (8-11, 5.30).

The Royals are keeping an eye on Lopez, who didn't pitch after Aug. 24 last season because of a flexor strain in his left forearm. Lopez finished his rehab this spring and didn't make his first exhibition appearance until March 8. He went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three spring starts. He pitched eight innings, striking out 11 with six walks and eight hits, and allowed a .257 batting average.

"Getting hurt at that time of the year, close to finishing the season, I had really good momentum," Lopez said. "The injury really (stunk). It was really frustrating. It took me a few days to wash it, but I learned from it."

Lopez has yet to face the Braves. He is 2-2 with a 1.69 ERA in six interleague appearances.

"I learned a lot of good things and bad things," Lopez said. "Hopefully, I can bottle that all up and remember it throughout 30 starts this year."

Elder was an All-Star as a second-year player in 2023 when he went 12-4 with a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts. But he has yet to regain that form and has struggled with consistency. Last year, he allowed five-plus earned runs in seven of his 28 starts, but he pitched at least six innings and allowed fewer than three runs in six of his final seven starts.

"I like the makeup," Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. "He's been through a lot already at a young age. His skin has gotten pretty thick, I'm sure, up and down and all that stuff that he's had to deal with. His demeanor never changes. Been very durable and there's a lot of value in that."

Elder will be facing an A's lineup that struggled to hit the ball in the series opener, striking out a combined 50 times in three games. The exception has been Shea Langeliers, at one time Atlanta's top prospect, who has hit in every game and is batting .500 (6-for-12) with three homers and six RBIs.

"They're anxious to go out and win," Kotsay said. "We played really good baseball for three days."

The Atlanta lineup in the series opener will likely be without Mike Yastrzemski, who will probably sit out against the southpaw Lopez. Yastrzemski had two hits both on Saturday and Sunday and is batting .500. The right-handed-hitting Eli White, who platoons against lefty starters, probably will be in the starting lineup.

The A's won two of three against the Braves last season in West Sacramento, Calif.

--Field Level Media