Smokin Joe Blanton with a 0-0 record and a 2.45 ERA goes against Pedro Astacio who has a 0-1 record and a 2.57 ERA.
I'm not sure I like the matchup of Blanton against Texas because the kid loves to challenge hitters and with the Rangers, you sometimes have to throw it in the dirt. You keep pumping fastballs or curveballs in the zone and that lineup is eventually going to figure it out.
But I have faith. Smokin Joe has pitched well thus far this season.
Here's the A's starting lineup:
Kotsay
Kendall
Chavez
Durazo
Hatteberg
Ellis
Swisher
Thomas
Scutaro
The Rangers counter with this group:
Matthews
Blalock
Young
Teixeira
Dellucci
Hidalgo
Gonzalez
DeRosa
Alomar
LET'S GO A'S!!! Sweep these Texans!