Athletics Theme Team
DiamondStarting Lineup
Starting Rotation
Bullpen
Bench
Captains
Captains are active roster designations, not additional roster spots.
Active at 1B
Active at SP
Team Category Ratings
Averages from filled lineup, rotation, and bullpen. Scale 0–99.
Like this lineup? Open it in the Team Builder to customize your Athletics theme team.
About the Athletics Theme Team in MLB The Show 26
The Athletics theme team fills all 26 playable roster slots — starting lineup, rotation, bullpen, and bench — using exclusively Athletics-affiliated cards available in MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty. Captain cards occupy legal active-roster positions and are designated separately. The remaining slots are optimized using position-specific base meta scores while respecting card eligibility and duplicate-player rules.
Top Athletics cards in this roster include Nick Kurtz (98 OVR, Red Diamond), Shea Langeliers (97 OVR, Red Diamond), Zack Gelof (97 OVR, Red Diamond). As new program cards and series are released throughout MLB The Show 26, this page automatically updates to reflect the best available options.
Use the "Edit in Builder" button to load this lineup into the Team Builder where you can swap cards, compare alternatives, and fine-tune your Athletics squad. You can also browse all 30 theme teams to compare rosters across franchises.
Athletics Theme Team FAQ
Who is the best Athletics player in MLB The Show 26?
Based on overall rating, the top Athletics card is Nick Kurtz (98 OVR, Red Diamond). Check the position rankings to see how Athletics players stack up league-wide.
How much does a Athletics theme team cost?
The estimated community market cost is approximately 162.0K stubs based on current Buy Now prices. Costs vary as the market fluctuates and you may already own cards through programs or packs.
Are theme teams competitive in Diamond Dynasty ranked seasons?
Theme teams can absolutely compete in ranked play, especially for marquee franchises. The key is balancing position quality with the roster cost of activating both captain cards, which this optimizer enforces. Use the Team Builder to customize and fine-tune the roster for ranked play.
How do Athletics captains work?
Each MLB team has two dedicated captain cards — one hitter and one pitcher. Captains provide attribute boosts to teammates on the same team. The Athletics captains shown above are active roster cards: the hitter starts in the batting lineup, while the pitcher occupies the rotation or bullpen. They boost eligible Athletics players across multiple tiers. Learn more on the Captains page.