Game Thread #72: A's vs. Rangers

After a pair of blowouts — one in each direction — the A's and Rangers square off in a matinee rubber match, live from the Oakland Coliseum at 12:35pm.

The Athletics have Sonny Gray (6-3, 2.93 ERA) on the mound looking for the series win against Texas; he's started twice against the Rangers this year, having won once and lost once. The win was the best start of his young Major League career, a two-hit shutout in Arlington in which he walked one, struck out six, and induced 15 ground balls. The loss was a fine outing as well, a seven-inning, three-run start in which Sonny got absolutely no run support despite his best efforts to keep Oakland in the game.

The Rangers are countering Gray with Nick Tepesch, who hasn't faced the A's in six starts this year. He's 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA, and as a righty, he gives Bob Melvin the chance to keep several red-hot left-handed bats in the lineup, namely John Jaso and Stephen Vogt. Derek Norris is also DHing, for good measure. Who doesn't love a three-catcher lineup?

Coco Crisp gets yet another day off with a lingering neck injury — yesterday can't have been a good day for him, slamming against the wall in pursuit of a deep fly ball to center field, and making a sprawling catch in shallow center on a sinking line drive. So Jaso will lead off, followed by a more typical 2-3-4 of Jed Lowrie, Yoenis Cespedes, and Brandon Moss.