The A's and Los Kirk with a 1-1 record and a 5.63 ERA take on the Mariners and Joel Pineiro with a 4-3 record and a 4.59 ERA.
Los Kirk got pounded his last time out giving up eight runs, six earned against the Blue Jays over just five innings. Hopefully he goes a little longer today since the A's pen is ravaged with injuries right now. So the game will liekly wind up being in the hands of Flores, Roney, Karsay and/or Gaudin. Calero will likely be making his mandatory appearance as well.
Pineiro also struggled his last time out, giving up six earned runs against the Angels in three innings. Pineiro faced the A's earlier this year, going seven innings and giving up six runs, five earned.
The A's lineup facing Pineiro is:
Ellis
Swisher
Kotsay
Chavez
Thomas
Crosby
Payton
Melhuse
Johnson
Ellis is hitting .393 and has a .985 OPS against Pineiro. Don't get too excited thinking that Macha has changed priorities with starting Melhuse today. At least not yet. Kendall has struggled against Pineiro in limited at bats and it's a day game after a night game. DJ has only four at-bats against Pineiro, but he has two hits in those ABs with a home run included.
The Mariners send out this lineup:
Suzuki
Lopez
Ibanez
Sexson
Everett
Johjima
Reed
Bloomquist
Betancourt
Several of the Mariners batters have hit Los Kirk well in limited appearances...including Beltre, Ichiro and Jeremy Reed.
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!!!!!!!
