The 2026 MLB Spring Training has officially begun.
Tomorrow morning, the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers will face off in a Cactus League game at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.
Milwaukee, who set a franchise record with 97 wins and 65 losses last season and captured their third consecutive NL Central title, will take on the Athletics' young lineup as Oakland enters its second year of rebuilding.
Although it's early in Spring Training, this will be an important evaluation opportunity for both teams as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Cactus League) |
| Date & Time | February 25, 2026 (Wed) 05:05 KST |
| Venue | Hohokam Stadium (Mesa, Arizona) |
| Home Team | Oakland Athletics |
| Away Team | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Broadcast | MLB.TV |
Hohokam Stadium is a roughly 10,500-seat ballpark located in Mesa, Arizona, serving as the Athletics' Spring Training home.
While it's an early morning game in Korean time, it's an excellent opportunity to evaluate both teams' preparations for the 2026 season.
2025 Season Review & 2026 Season Outlook
Milwaukee Brewers posted a remarkable 97-65 record in 2025, setting a franchise record for most wins in a single season.
They captured their third consecutive NL Central title, with a strong 52-29 record at home and 45-36 on the road, showcasing consistent performance throughout the year.
However, the offseason trade of ace Freddy Peralta has made changes to the starting rotation inevitable.
Young pitchers including Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, and Kyle Harrison are competing for rotation spots alongside Brandon Woodruff.
| Team | 2025 Record | Division Rank | Postseason |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 97W 65L | NL Central 1st | Qualified |
| Oakland Athletics | 76W 86L | AL West 4th | Did not qualify |
Oakland Athletics finished the 2025 season at 76-86, placing fourth in the American League West.
While the record was a 7-win improvement over 2024 (69-93), the team missed the postseason for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite playing their first season at Sacramento's Sutter Health Park as a temporary home after leaving Oakland, the performances of Nick Kurtz (AL Rookie of the Year) and Jacob Wilson gave fans hope for the future.
However, trading closer Mason Miller and JP Sears to San Diego has created a need for pitching staff restructuring.
Key Player Stats Comparison
All eyes will be on how both teams' key hitters look during Spring Training.
Let's compare the major hitters' stats from last season.
| Player | Team | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
| Nick Kurtz | Athletics | .290 | 36 | 86 | 1.002 |
| Brent Rooker | Athletics | .267 | 30+ | 87 | - |
| Lawrence Butler | Athletics | .234 | 21 | - | .710 |
| Christian Yelich | Brewers | - | 29 | 99 | .795 |
| William Contreras | Brewers | - | 17 | 76 | .754 |
| Jackson Chourio | Brewers | .270 | 21 | 78 | .770 |
Head-to-Head Record
The Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers play in different leagues, so they don't meet often during the regular season.
Since 1993, Milwaukee leads the all-time series 32-27 across 59 games.
| Season | Milwaukee W | Athletics W | Notes |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | Milwaukee won series |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | Milwaukee won series |
| 2023 | 0 | 3 | Athletics swept |
| All-time (1993~) | 32 | 27 | 59 games |
Milwaukee has won the season series for two consecutive years, but the Athletics swept all three games in 2023.
Since interleague matchups typically consist of only about three games per year, each team's form on game day matters more than the season series record.
Projected Lineups
As it's early in Spring Training, both teams' lineups may differ somewhat from what we'll see during the regular season.
Whether starters play will depend on daily conditioning and the manager's decisions, and minor league prospects are also expected to receive playing time.
| Oakland Athletics (Projected) | |
| Position | Player |
| Catcher | Shea Langeliers |
| First Base | Nick Kurtz |
| Second Base | Zack Bridges |
| Shortstop | Jacob Wilson |
| Third Base | - |
| Left Field | Tyler Soderstrom |
| Center Field | Denzel Clarke |
| Right Field | Lawrence Butler |
| Designated Hitter | Brent Rooker |
| Milwaukee Brewers (Projected) | |
| Position | Player |
| Catcher | William Contreras |
| First Base | Andrew Vaughn |
| Second Base | Brice Turang |
| Shortstop | Joey Ortiz |
| Third Base | Luis Rengifo |
| Left Field | Jackson Chourio |
| Center Field | Garrett Mitchell |
| Right Field | Sal Frelick |
| Designated Hitter | Christian Yelich |
Since it's early in Spring Training, starters may play limited innings, and minor league players are likely to be substituted in from the middle innings onward.
With both teams in the midst of intense rotation competitions, young pitchers are expected to get work out of the bullpen after the starters exit.
Starting Pitcher Outlook
In the early stages of Spring Training, teams tend to distribute opportunities evenly among rotation candidates.
For the Athletics, Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs have established themselves as the core of the 2026 rotation.
Aaron Civale, Jacob Lopez, and Luis Morales are competing for the remaining spots.
With the pitching staff undergoing restructuring after trading Mason Miller and JP Sears to San Diego, this Spring Training's pitcher evaluation is critically important.
The Milwaukee Brewers need a major overhaul of their starting rotation following the Freddy Peralta trade.
Brandon Woodruff is the most experienced pitcher in the rotation, but his health is a concern after spending time on the injured list with a lat muscle injury last season.
Reports indicate his return timeline in camp has been somewhat delayed, making his availability for the Opening Day start uncertain.
Young pitchers including Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, and Chad Patrick are in fierce competition for rotation spots.
| Team | Projected Starting Rotation |
| Athletics | Severino, Springs, Civale, Lopez, Morales |
| Brewers | Woodruff, Priester, Misiorowski, Patrick, Harrison |
Key Players
Nick Kurtz (Athletics)
2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz posted a phenomenal debut season with a .290 batting average, 36 home runs, 86 RBI, and a 1.002 OPS.
His rookie season was hailed as the most impressive since Barry Bonds, with a truly dominant presence at the plate.
Whether he can overcome the sophomore slump and show further growth will be closely watched, and his swing during Spring Training will be the first indicator.
Brent Rooker (Athletics)
Rooker has established himself as a cornerstone of the Athletics lineup with 30 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons.
In 2025, he batted .267 with 87 RBI and a career-high 40 doubles, demonstrating both power and consistency.
Checking Rooker's batting form alongside Kurtz in the Athletics' cleanup spot is one of the key storylines of this game.
Jackson Chourio (Brewers)
Chourio joined the 20-20 club with 21 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 2025, establishing himself as a core player for Milwaukee's future.
He posted a .270 average with 78 RBI and 88 runs scored, delivering consistent production despite his young age.
With even more growth expected in 2026, his conditioning during Spring Training will be worth monitoring.
Christian Yelich (Brewers)
Yelich proved he remains the heart of Milwaukee's lineup with a team-leading 29 home runs and 99 RBI in 2025.
He maintained a solid .795 OPS and is expected to continue anchoring the lineup as designated hitter in 2026.
Whether he can stay healthy and play a full season will be one of the key variables determining Milwaukee's success.
Key Storylines
1. Athletics Pitching Staff Evaluation
The biggest storyline is evaluating the Athletics' pitching staff, which is being rebuilt after losing Mason Miller and JP Sears.
Beyond Severino and Springs, it will be worth watching how sharp the pitchers competing for the fifth rotation spot look in game action.
2. Milwaukee Rotation Competition
The hottest topic following ace Peralta's departure is Milwaukee's starting rotation competition.
Woodruff's health status and the development of young arms like Misiorowski and Priester will be the overarching storyline throughout this entire Spring Training.
3. Rookie of the Year Kurtz's Sophomore Season
Whether Nick Kurtz, who blasted 36 home runs in his rookie year, can maintain the same level of performance in his second season is the biggest question for Athletics fans.
His swing mechanics and plate discipline in the early Spring Training games will serve as important indicators for the season outlook.
Viewing Guide
Spring Training is a period for evaluating player conditioning and team composition rather than focusing on wins and losses.
Here are the key moments to watch for in this game.
First, the starting pitchers' stuff and command.
While pitchers may not be in peak form this early in the season, their fastball velocity and breaking ball movement can give us a gauge of how prepared they are for the regular season.
Second, playing time for minor league prospects.
In Spring Training, starters often play only 3-4 innings before being replaced, giving us a chance to observe young players competing for roster spots in the later innings.
Third, the team atmosphere for the Athletics after their relocation to Sacramento.
This is a great opportunity to see how the Athletics, making a fresh start after leaving Oakland, are preparing for the season and to gauge the players' energy and enthusiasm.
Prediction
Unlike the regular season, Spring Training results carry little significance in terms of wins and losses.
Both teams will focus on player evaluation and conditioning, meaning starters will play limited innings and the later frames will mostly feature minor league players.
On paper, Milwaukee holds the edge as the team that won 97 games in 2025.
However, the Athletics' young power lineup of Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, and Lawrence Butler poses a threat against any opponent.
Ultimately, the real story of this game isn't on the scoreboard—it's about how both teams are preparing for Opening Day at the end of March.