A’s Drop Spring Opener to White Sox 11–2 as Pitching Struggles Define First Look at 2026 Roster

The Oakland Athletics finally opened their 2026 Cactus League schedule on Saturday afternoon, but instead of a crisp first showing, fans were treated to a messy early-spring performance that ended in an 11–2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

It was the kind of lopsided result that means very little in the grand scheme of Spring Training, but it still provided meaningful insight into where the A’s roster stands, which battles are already heating up, and which players may need to quickly rebound to stay in consideration for Opening Day roles.

Right-hander Jack Perkins entered camp hoping to pitch his way into the rotation conversation, but his 2026 debut did not provide the strong opening statement he needed.

Perkins allowed a leadoff double and followed that with two walks, loading the bases before surrendering a two-run single that ended his afternoon after 26 laborious pitches.

He failed to finish the inning — a disappointing outcome for a pitcher already fighting from behind in a crowded rotation competition — and he now faces an uphill climb to recover momentum as camp progresses.

His command wavered early, his pitch shape looked inconsistent, and his inability to put hitters away forced him into deep counts far earlier than the staff would have liked.

Following Perkins, right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang took the mound and delivered a mostly clean outing marred only by a single mistake — a solo home run that extended Chicago’s lead and set the tone for the remainder of the game.

Top prospect Wei-En Lin followed and recorded a full inning of work, but his command also faltered, resulting in a pair of runs that pushed the deficit out of reach before the A’s lineup had even settled into the game.

These early-spring outings are often designed to stretch arms, test specific pitch sequences, and evaluate early stamina, but Saturday’s collective performance from the pitching staff left little room for interpretation: the A’s arms were simply not sharp.

Relievers Eduarneil Nunez and Nick Anderson provided brief bright spots, with Nunez striking out two and Anderson punching out one in otherwise clean innings.

Nunez remains one of the more intriguing relief projects in camp due to his electric raw stuff, but consistency continues to be his biggest hurdle, and his performance this spring will go a long way in determining whether he breaks camp with the big-league club.

On the offensive side, the A’s never found sustained rhythm, and their two-run afternoon reflected a lineup still working through timing, sequencing, and early-spring rust.

Oakland scratched across its first run in the second inning thanks to a pair of singles, a productive out, and a wild pitch — hardly the type of high-contact execution they hope to generate during meaningful games, but enough to avoid an early shutout.

Their second run came in the fifth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues by the White Sox, but the A’s offense stalled from there as Chicago’s depth arms controlled the pace for the remainder of the contest.

Meanwhile, the White Sox padded their lead with five additional runs in the late innings, feasting on A’s pitchers competing for fringe bullpen spots and leaving little doubt about the final result.

Still, within the loss came several encouraging individual performances that could shape the roster picture over the next several weeks.

Third-string catcher remains one of the more intriguing battles of the spring following the departure of former first-round pick Daniel Susac, and veteran glove-first catcher Brian Serven made an immediate impression by going 3-for-3 with two doubles.

Serven’s defensive reputation has always been his calling card, but if he continues providing competitive at-bats, he could very well play himself into an early-season bench role.

That competition mirrors another notable roster battle at third base, where Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris all recorded hits on Saturday, a promising sign for a position that remains completely up for grabs.

None of the three separated themselves outright, but their opening-day results further solidify what could be one of the most closely watched internal races of the entire camp.

Prospect Junior Perez also chipped in a single, showcasing the power-speed profile that makes him an enticing long-shot candidate for the Opening Day roster, though it would likely take an exceptional spring for him to force his way onto the team.

Fellow outfielders Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas went hitless, an unsurprising result for players still adjusting to major league pitching tempo after a long offseason of training and development.

As for the bigger picture, Saturday’s result should not cause panic, as Spring Training games are rarely reflective of regular-season outcomes, especially when early workloads are light, and pitchers are more focused on process than results.

The A’s will quickly turn the page as they prepare for their first home Cactus League matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, a game that will give fans a first look at veteran right-hander Luis Severino in green and gold.

Severino is expected to throw only one inning, following the same cautious early-spring structure as Perkins, before handing the ball to fellow starter Luis Morales, relievers Brady Basso and Michael Kelly, and top pitching prospect Kade Morris.

Tomorrow’s outing will offer the coaching staff a chance to evaluate how Severino’s mechanics and velocity trend after a full offseason of conditioning, and it will also provide a clearer early read on Morales and Morris, two pitchers who could become major contributors later in the season.

Opening Day is more than a month away, and the roster remains far from settled, but the A’s now have their first data point — a flawed one, but a starting point nonetheless — as they evaluate who is ready to contribute and who must sharpen their form.

And while the score may not have pleased the fan base, the simple fact remains: baseball is back, the games are underway, and a long spring filled with opportunities has only just begun.