Oakland A's vs. Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants: Split squad game threads

Two games in store for the Athletics again today, leading off with the Athletics playing in Vegas starting at noon on 95.7 the Game and the Oakland Athletics Radio Network, this time as the visitors. At one o'clock the A's play the Giants at HoHoKam Park in Mesa on KNBR. Our preview of the Cubs game is from "FirstWord:Tejada" and our preview of the Giants game is from Jon Varnica.

Game #13: Oakland A's vs. Chicago Cubs in Las Vegas

In only the second split squad day of the Cactus League for the A's, the A's look to wake up today and hope Jason Voorhees was the reason for the frightening double loss yesterday. Jesse Hahn will hold the reins in his second start of the season, trying to forget his first outing against the Rangers that lasted 3 innings and resulted in a loss, though only being responsible for a single earned run, off a solo homer from Rougned Odor.

Hendricks will be starting for the Chicago Cubs. The sophomore starter from Dartmouth has only pitched two innings total this year, giving three hits, but staying clean with no earned runs. Hendricks will stare-down what looks to be the A's double A team last year, with Gentry being the only starter from last year. But that is what you get when a "split-squad" faces the 2-7 Cubs.

The lineups will look like this:

Overview

OAKLAND: It doesn't seem to matter that they don't have many of the same team from last year, because they look like they have most of the same tendencies. Of their 7 wins, 5 of them have come in the 7th inning or later.

CHICAGO: Looks like Marty McFly should have kept his money at this point, with the Cubs going 2-7. But many things can happen and with such bulk like they have, it may take a while for them to get all on the same page.

SETTING: Cashman Field, Las Vegas, NV

Temperature: 73 degrees

Wind: 3 MPH

Humidity: 16%

Rain: 0%

Game #14: Oakland A's vs. San Francisco Giants

Battle of the Bay, Cactus League edition, take three. Today's match-up is the third game between the A's and Giants this Spring. If today's contest goes anything like the previous two, we should be in for a treat. In the first two Cactus League games between these two clubs the A's scored a combined 18 runs, had 30 hits(!!!), while Marcus Semien debuted with 5 hits, 7 RBIs, 4 runs, and failed to record an out. Unfortunately, Semien won't be here because he is in Vegas for the weekend series against the Cubs.

Previously the A's had to face Madison Bumgartner and Jake Peavy. Today the match-up is no better as Matt Cain takes the mound for the Giants. Last week inn his return from season-ending surgery Cain threw two perfect innings against the Dodgers. Today he faces a split-squad A's line-up, detailed below.

Oakland sends Jesse Chavez to the mound. As has been reported on many times this Spring, Chavez is gunning for a spot in the starting rotation. Success will surely buoy his ego, but more importantly, his wallet. Chavez signed a one-year deal in the off-season and a full 2015 season as a starter, as opposed to middle reliever, would certainly bolster his resume in future negotiations. So far this Spring Chavez has appeared in two games (one start), thrown 4.0 innings, given up 2 earned, with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. The one start was against the Giants, where he threw two scoreless innings while allowing two hits.

Below are today's lineups:

The weather is warm and I'm sitting three rows behind home plate, so here's to hearing some loud cracks off the A's bats for the first time in 2015.