AL Squad On Track to Set Unwanted History Amid Home Struggles

The Athletics are on track to set an unwanted record this season, despite excelling at scoring runs at home. With a current 31-46 home record, the Athletics have the worst home record in Major League Baseball, even though they lead the American League in home runs per game. No other AL team has ever had both the most runs per game at home and the worst home record in their league at the same time, a feat last achieved by the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League back in 1933.

The Athletics' four remaining home games against the Houston Astros present them with a chance to avoid this dubious distinction, as a sweep of those games would give them a better home record than their divisional rivals. However, if they fail to win all four games, the Kansas City Royals, who have scored 4.87 runs per game at home through 78 games, could potentially overtake them as the highest-scoring AL team at home.

The Athletics are currently playing in the second year of their three-year stint at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, while they finish constructing their Las Vegas stadium. The hitter-friendly environment of Sutter Health Park, with its strong winds and low walls, has fueled an offensive explosion for the Athletics and other teams, making this season particularly challenging for the Athletics to avoid making MLB history.