dailyloe.com – Luis Severino will take the mound for the Oakland Athletics on Opening Day, setting the tone for a season where the young team aims to defy projections and contend for a playoff spot.
The Athletics enter the 2026 season with a 16% chance of making the postseason according to FanGraphs’ playoff odds, ranking 20th in projected Wins Above Replacement.
Their strength lies in a lineup that finished 10th in weighted Runs Created Plus last season, featuring young stars like rookie slugger Nick Kurtz and catcher Shea Langeliers, who posted a 131 wRC+.
Key hitters Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, and Tyler Soderstrom provide depth, with the group projected just outside the top 10 in positional WAR, close to elite teams like the Dodgers.
While not favored, the Athletics’ core of talented, extended young players could keep them in the playoff race deep into September, making Severino’s opening start a symbolic beginning.[]
Source: FanGraphs
