Game Thread #45: A's vs. Royals

Trying for their first sweep outside of the AL West, the A's send A.J. Griffin to the mound against RHP Luis Mendoza. Oakland has won each of the first two games of this series by 2-1 scores.

By Nico May 19, 2013, 12:56pm PDT

Griffin was sensational his last time out, baffling the Texas Rangers by incorporating a cutter that was closer to a slider than what we've seen in the past. For the second game in a row, Bob Melvin is going with the "platoon-based" up the middle combo of Jed Lowrie at SS and Eric Sogard at 2B, so perhaps Rosales' start at SS Friday night was an outlier rather than a new trend.

Mendoza's numbers so far this season have not impressed. In 30 IP, he has allowed 28 hits and 20 ER, with 13 BBs and 22 Ks.

Coco Crisp gets a "partial rest" today by way of DHing, and while I don't know if Griffin's first pitch today will be low, I do know that it will be to Lough:

1. David Lough (L) CF

2. Alcides Escobar (R) SS

3. Alex Gordon (L) LF

4. Billy Butler (R) DH

5. Eric Hosmer (L) 1B

6. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B

7. Jeff Francoeur (R) RF

8. George Kottaras (L) C

9. Chris Getz (L) 2B

1. Coco Crisp (S) DH

2. Jed Lowrie (S) SS

3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF