Ready or not, here come the Oakland A's fans. As early as noon on Thursday, fans are expected to begin lining up to enter the parking lot at the Coliseum, but many won't actually buy a ticket to the A's Opening Night game against the Cleveland Guardians, a sign of protest against the team's pending move to Las Vegas in 2028. While 26,805 people went to the team's opening game at the Coliseum last year, almost as many are planning to show up to the parking lot Thursday while boycotting the actual game, said Bryan Johansen, founder of A's fan group Last Dive Bar and one of the organizers of the boycott.

Ready or not, here come the Oakland A's fans. As early as noon on Thursday, fans are expected to begin lining up to enter the parking lot at the Coliseum, but many won't actually buy a ticket to the A's Opening Night game against the Cleveland Guardians, a sign of protest against the team's pending move to Las Vegas in 2028. While 26,805 people went to the team's opening game at the Coliseum last year, almost as many are planning to show up to the parking lot Thursday while boycotting the actual game, said Bryan Johansen, founder of A's fan group Last Dive Bar and one of the organizers of the boycott.

Kinsley Murray is an old pro at singing the national anthem. It's an impressive accomplishment — especially for an 8-year-old, who can't get enough of the rush that comes from belting out “The Star-Spangled Banner” for crowds of sports fans. “When I see the people, I'm like, 'Oh, I think this is going to be a good performance,'” Kinsley says. There's no doubt that Major League Baseball views anthem singers as hot commodities.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Oakland Athletics Oakland, California; Thursday, 10:07 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Shane Bieber (0-0); Athletics: Alex Wood (0-0) : Guardians -159, Athletics +135; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics host the Cleveland Guardians for the season opener. Oakland went 50-112 overall and 26-55 at home last season. The Athletics slugged .370 with a .298 on-base percentage as a team in the 2023 season. Cleveland went 76-86 overall and 34-47 in road games a season ago. The Guardians slugged .381 with a .313 on-base percentage as a team in the 2023 season. INJURIES: Athletics: Trevor Gott : 60-Day IL (elbow), Ken Waldichuk : 60-Day IL (elbow)

Here are five A's players to follow during the 2024 MLB season.

The A's have been as colorful and attention-grabbing, both on and off the field, as their green-and-gold uniforms since they first moved to Oakland. How much longer those memories will be made in Oakland wasn't clear as the A's prepared to open a season in the East Bay for the 57th time, but there is no question they have left an indelible mark on the Bay Area sports scene. Here's a look at some of the teams, players and moments that will forever link the A's to Oakland. Oakland Athletics | Dice is nice: Bay Area club on a roll playing legendary baseball board game For nearly a month in the late summer of 2002, the A's were the talk of baseball.

The A's have been as colorful and attention-grabbing, both on and off the field, as their green-and-gold uniforms since they first moved to Oakland. How much longer those memories will be made in Oakland wasn't clear as the A's prepared to open a season in the East Bay for the 57th time, but there is no question they have left an indelible mark on the Bay Area sports scene. Here's a look at some of the teams, players and moments that will forever link the A's to Oakland. For nearly a month in the late summer of 2002, the A's were the talk of baseball.

MESA, Ariz. − They are Major League Baseball's most unwanted. The team that once was one of the most powerful in the American League, the team that brought you everyone from Reggie Jackson to Catfish Hunter to Rollie Fingers to Rickey Henderson to Dave Stewart to Mark McGwire and Dennis Eckersley, is now the team that time forgot.

MESA, Ariz. − They are Major League Baseball's most unwanted. The team that once was one of the most powerful in the American League, the team that brought you everyone from Reggie Jackson to Catfish Hunter to Rollie Fingers to Rickey Henderson to Dave Stewart to Mark McGwire and Dennis Eckersley, is now the team that time forgot.

The Athletics, who intend to move to Las Vegas in 2028, could be playing in their last home opener at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday.

Alex Wood didn't need to study Zack Gelof for more than a minute or two to know that the Oakland A's have a future star on their hands. “He looks like a big leaguer for sure.” “No, I talked to him today about just being Zack,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday.

Alex Wood didn't need to study Zack Gelof for more than a minute or two to know that the Oakland A's have a future star on their hands. “He looks like a big leaguer for sure.” “No, I talked to him today about just being Zack,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday.

Stephen Vogt hopes his debut as a major league manager goes as well as his farewell as a player when his Cleveland Guardians open the season against the host Oakland Athletics on Thursday. Guardians' right-hander Shane Bieber (6-6, 3.80 ERA in 2023) is slated to make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start.

This is a main theme for both fans and players at Spring Training each March in the Cactus League in Arizona, and the Grapefruit League in Florida. Other lifelong baseball fans like myself thrive just wanting to be surrounded by baseball in the warm weather, and maybe seeing the up and coming prospects for their favorite team. This is Spring Training baseball, and for a fourth time I got to experience all of this in Arizona for six days — five games, two practices and one rainstorm last week. Chico Enterprise-Record reporter Justin Couchot watches as the San Francisco Giants take on the Cincinnati Reds from the lawn of Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Scottsdale, California.

(Photo credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports) The Oakland Athletics acquired left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash. Oakland placed the 34-year-old McFarland on its 40-day roster. McFarland didn't make the Los Angeles roster despite compiling a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He was signed to a minor league contract in January. McFarland only pitched in three big league games for the New York Mets last season. He also made 44 appearances at the Triple-A level, splitting time between Syracuse (23 appearances) for the Mets' organization and Norfolk (21 games), the latter an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be McFarland's second stint with

Where does your MLB team rank ahead of Opening Day? USA TODAY Sports breaks down all 30.

Sports Left-hander T.J. McFarland acquired by the Oakland Athletics from Los Angeles Dodgers for cash March 26, 2024 / 1:37 PM PDT / AP Left-hander T.J. McFarland was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash and was added to the 40-man roster. The 34-year-old agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 26 and had a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He made three relief appearances last year with the New York Mets, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. McFarland was 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 44 relief appearances at Triple-A with Baltimore's Norfolk farm team and the Mets' Syracuse affiliate. McFarland is 24-16 with a 4.14 ERA in parts of 11 seasons

Sports Left-hander T.J. McFarland acquired by the Oakland Athletics from Los Angeles Dodgers for cash March 26, 2024 / 1:37 PM PDT / AP Left-hander T.J. McFarland was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash and was added to the 40-man roster. The 34-year-old agreed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 26 and had a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He made three relief appearances last year with the New York Mets, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. McFarland was 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 44 relief appearances at Triple-A with Baltimore's Norfolk farm team and the Mets' Syracuse affiliate. McFarland is 24-16 with a 4.14 ERA in parts of 11 seasons

The Oakland Athletics acquired left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash. Oakland placed the 34-year-old McFarland on its 40-day roster. McFarland didn't make the Los Angeles roster despite compiling a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He was signed to a minor league contract in January. McFarland only pitched in three big league games for the New York Mets last season. He also made 44 appearances at the Triple-A level, splitting time between Syracuse (23 appearances) for the Mets' organization and Norfolk (21 games), the latter an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be McFarland's second stint with the Athletics. He went 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA

The Oakland Athletics acquired left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday for cash. Oakland placed the 34-year-old McFarland on its 40-day roster. McFarland didn't make the Los Angeles roster despite compiling a 1.35 ERA in seven spring training games. He was signed to a minor league contract in January. McFarland only pitched in three big league games for the New York Mets last season. He also made 44 appearances at the Triple-A level, splitting time between Syracuse (23 appearances) for the Mets' organization and Norfolk (21 games), the latter an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. This will be McFarland's second stint with the Athletics. He went 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA