A's Manager Kotsay Demands Better Effort Against Astros

Oakland looks to bounce back after lopsided loss in series against division rival Houston.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:22pm

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The Oakland Athletics will host the Houston Astros on Sunday, with each team seeking their first series win against a divisional opponent this season. After the A's took the series opener 11-4, the Astros responded with an 11-0 shutout on Saturday, prompting A's manager Mark Kotsay to call for a better effort from his team.

Why it matters

The A's and Astros are longtime American League West rivals, and this early-season series could set the tone for the rest of their divisional matchups. Oakland is looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss, while Houston aims to build momentum from their dominant performance.

The details

Kotsay was critical of his team's pitching staff, which combined to give up 18 hits, walk 13 batters, and strike out only five. He said the poor outing was 'not reflective of the expectation level of our staff' and that the A's 'completely beat ourselves.' The manager wants to see his pitchers improve their command of offspeed pitches to keep hitters off-balance.

  • The series opener was on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Astros won 11-0 on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The players

Mark Kotsay

The manager of the Oakland Athletics.

Lance McCullers Jr.

The starting pitcher for the Houston Astros in the series finale.

Tatsuya Imai

The Astros pitcher who worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out nine in Houston's win on Saturday.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't do anything well today. That game was reflective of, in my opinion, past performances that we feel like we have put behind us, and we need to put behind us as a team.”

— Mark Kotsay, Athletics Manager

“He kept attacking. He set the tone from the very beginning. He was going to control the at-bats.”

— Joe Espada, Astros Manager

What’s next

The A's will look to bounce back and win the series against the Astros on Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

This early-season series between the A's and Astros is an important divisional matchup, and Oakland's manager is demanding a better effort from his team after a lopsided loss. The outcome could set the tone for the rest of their head-to-head contests this year.