Braves look to extend Athletics' misery in series opener

Bryce Elder takes the mound as Atlanta aims to stay above .500 early in the season

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:08pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Braves and Athletics uniforms, conceptually representing the fast-paced action and strategic elements of a baseball game.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the Braves and Athletics, capturing the dynamic energy of the game through fragmented geometric shapes and bold team colors.Today in Sacramento

The Atlanta Braves will send Bryce Elder to the mound as they look to pick up their third win in four games to start the season against the struggling Oakland Athletics. The A's are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays, during which their offense struggled mightily. Elder will look to cool down A's slugger Shea Langeliers, who hit three home runs in the series against Toronto. On the other side, the Braves will face off against Jacob Lopez, a left-hander who had a strong 2025 season despite his average ERA and FIP numbers.

Why it matters

This early-season matchup between the Braves and Athletics is an important one for both teams. The Braves are looking to stay above .500 and build momentum, while the A's are hoping to bounce back from a tough opening series against the Blue Jays. A win for the Braves would keep them in a good position in the NL East, while a victory for the A's could help them regain their footing in the AL West.

The details

Bryce Elder will make his first start of the season for the Braves, coming off a strong spring training performance. The A's will counter with Jacob Lopez, who had a breakout 2025 season despite his average ERA and FIP numbers. Lopez's underlying metrics suggest he is a tough pitcher to face, and the Braves lineup will be largely unfamiliar with him. The Braves took the last matchup between these two teams, with Elder picking up the win in a 9-2 victory.

  • The game will take place on Monday, March 30th at 7:15 p.m. ET.
  • The Braves and A's last faced off in Sacramento, where the Braves won 9-2 with Elder on the mound.

The players

Bryce Elder

The Braves' starting pitcher, who is making his first start of the season after a strong spring training performance.

Jacob Lopez

The A's starting pitcher, who is coming off a successful 2025 season despite his average ERA and FIP numbers.

Shea Langeliers

The A's slugger who hit three home runs in the team's opening series against the Blue Jays.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever the Athletics did manage to make contact with the ball, they made some noise. The A's had a Hard-Hit percentage of 36.5 percent across the first three games of the series, which placed them in fourth behind the Dodgers (sure), White Sox (actually makes sense), and the Marlins (they played the Rockies).”

— Demetrius Bell, Author

“The biggest culprit over the weekend was Shea Langeliers, who had a Barrel rate of 37.5 percent and clubbed three dingers over the course of the three games North of the border.”

— Demetrius Bell, Author

What’s next

If Elder can cool down Langeliers and the A's offense, the Braves will look to build on their strong start to the season with a series-opening win at home.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Braves and Athletics features two pitchers looking to build on their recent success. Elder will aim to continue his strong spring training performance, while Lopez will try to prove his underlying metrics from 2025 were no fluke. The outcome of this game could set the tone for both teams as they look to establish themselves in the early part of the season.