Good evening! Happy Friday on this gorgeous summer night, and welcome to the second "half" of A's baseball! Technically, the season is more than half over (I know, I can't believe it either), and the A's--despite having the best record in baseball--are clinging to a 1.5 game lead over the team with the second-best record in baseball; the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who look to be on the verge of acquiring Huston Street.
It was an exciting All Star break for the green and gold; nearly a third of the team was hanging out in Minnesota with yours truly. Seeing Yoenis Cespedes repeat as Home Run Derby champ was a baseball highlight for sure, and the new stadium is gorgeous! I'll be back with a post next week with all of the in-person details, but tonight, the A's have a game to win.
Enter the Orioles.
The last time the A's and the Orioles hooked up was in the great bat-gate incident of 2014. Jeff Samardzija, who will be starting the game for the A's tonight, was not yet a member of the green and gold, but I'm sure he's in the loop. I fully expect nothing to happen in the game regarding the incident, except for a rousing chorus of boo's from the fans tonight, and I don't think anyone will really complain about that, Machado included. The A's lineup will take a crack at Chris Tillman tonight. Andy Parrino will be the chosen one at second base tonight, and we're going with a 3-catcher lineup, which is usually a good sign.
The A's need to keep winning on their quest to defend the AL West crown; the Angels will be facing off against Seattle tonight, another AL West team with something to play for.
Here are your lineups:
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!
