Coming off an economical 96-pitch complete game victory 6 days ago, Esteban Loaiza traiza get the A's back in the win column, matched up against another talented and enigmatic right-hander, Miguel Batista. With Brandon Webb, Nate Robertson, and Justin Verlander constituting the next three opposing starters, it would behoove the A's to make hay this afternoon against Batista, owner of a 5.72 ERA and a WHIP of 1.72.
With Bobby Kielty (shoulder) joining Eric Chavez as out for the proverbial "few days," Milton Bradley still dead, and with the Statue of Liberty currently not accepting any more tired or poor, Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay are pressed into duty again despite each needing a respite from the daily grind. This team would hobble to the All-Star Break, but it isn't quite healthy enough to do so.
Today's starting lineups are brought to you by Eric Byrnes: The energy to take you anywhere!
Counsell
Byrnes
Tracy
Jackson
L. Gonzalez
Estrada
Green
Hudson
DeVanon
Kendall
Kotsay
Crosby
Thomas
Swisher
Payton
Johnson
Ellis
Scutaro (3B)
