First pitch is 6:40 PM PT on Monday for the series opener, and per SportsGrid's preview the probable matchup is Pittsburgh's Jared Jones (4.82 ERA) against the A's J.T. Ginn (3.15) — a noticeable ERA gap before a single pitch is thrown. This is the only meeting between these two in Sacramento all year, and it lands at a weird moment for both. The Pirates are 35-34 but just got worked by the Dodgers at home, losing 2 of 3 including a 12-3 blowout. The Athletics are 33-35 but took the last 2 of 3 from Milwaukee, including a 4-3 squeaker on Wednesday. Neither team is great. Both are trying to convince themselves they're trending up. The biggest absence in this one isn't on the mound — it's in center. Oneil Cruz is on the 10-day IL with a hand issue and Konnor Griffin's still rehabbing the elbow, so Pittsburgh's lineup is missing real thump behind Skenes-less starts like this one. Skenes himself just went 6 innings of 2-run ball with 7 punchouts against the Dodgers, but he's 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA over his last 5 according to ESPN — and crucially, he isn't slated for the opener. On the Sacramento side, Brent Rooker is day-to-day with knee soreness after sitting Wednesday, which is the kind of thing you watch right up until first pitch. Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler keep this lineup dangerous even if Rooker is held out again, but the A's rotation is the bigger story — Luis Severino is shelved 4-to-6 weeks with a shoulder strain and Aaron Civale is finally close to a rehab outing. That puts the spotlight on Ginn, who's been the most reliable arm in this group. Stylistically this is a bullpen game waiting to happen. The A's just gave up 15 to Milwaukee in a one-run loss, the Pirates surrendered 12 and 8 in back-to-back games against L.A., and Sutter Health Park has played hitter-friendly all year. If either starter wobbles past the 5th, the under is in trouble in a hurry. Both sides are scrambling to stay relevant in their divisions, and Monday's opener sets the tone for a 3-game set that quietly matters more than the records suggest. Pittsburgh needs to stop the bleeding. Sacramento wants to keep proving the home-park magic is real.