Breaking Down Ticket Prices For A’s vs Giants Home & Home
It’s a dual-city interleague series between Bay Area rivals with both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics schedule nearing the end of the first half. But while the A’s have been easily the best team in baseball, the Giants have caused the largest ticket premium. The first two games of the series are in Oakland, and Oakland Athletics tickets are averaging 112.16 for the game for a 78 percent increase over their season average. Tickets at AT&T Park in San Fran are averaging just $94.61 which is actually nine percent below the Giants season average. The bigger premium on the SF Giants schedule belongs to NL West rival Los Angeles.
7/7 SF Ryan Vogelsong vs. OAK Jesse Chavez | Avg. Price: $113.44 | Get-in Price: $60
Jesse Chavez has really flourished in Oakland. After bouncing around the league, Chavez posted the best numbers of his career last season in 35 relief appearances for Oakland. This season he has entered the rotation, and in 103 innings has maintained a similar strikeout rate, while posting the best walk rate of his career at just 7.4 percent. He gets the first start of the series, and the game is the most expensive of the four. The average price is $113.44 and the get-in is $60.
7/8 SF Madison Bumgarner vs. OAK Sonny Gray | Avg. Price: $110.88 | Get-in Price: $64
The second and last game in Oakland has a higher get-in price of $64. But the average price is a tick lower at $110.88. Sonny Gray takes the mound for Oakland, and he has been great in his first full season in the league. He’s tied for first on the team with a 2.0 WAR, and is second with a 3.08 ERA. He also leads the team with 111 innings pitched despite making one less start than Scott Kazmir.
7/9 OAK Jason Hammel vs. SF Matt Cain | Avg. Price: $82.02 | Get-in Price: $39
The series switches to San Francisco for the third game of the series, and the average price drops below $100 for the only time. Tickets are averaging $82.02 for the game with a get-in price of $39. Perhaps that’s due to Matt Cain getting the start, who has been extremely disappointing this year. Cain has posted a 1-7 record and has rated below replacement level in 14 starts. His 4.53 FIP is even worse than Yusmeiro Petit who has a 5.81 ERA in five starts.
7/10 OAK Scott Kazmir vs. SF Tim Hudson | Avg. Price: $107.19 | Get-in Price: $36
Tim Hudson makes the start for the series finale. He has been a bargain free agent signing, leading the team in innings at 113.2, while posting a team-leading 2.53 ERA. He rates just behind Madison Bumgarner with a 1.7 WAR. Scott Kazmir opposes him for Oakland, and Kazmir has resurrected his career with the A’s. He leads the team with a 10-3 record and a 2.0 WAR. His 2.53 ERA is also the best on the team,