Game Thread #159: Oakland A's at Los Angeles Angels

Barry Zito will make what may be the final start of his career with Sonny Gray done for the year with a minor hip issue. Zito does so in his native Southern California for the Oakland Athletics, though an hour or two from where he went to high school in Woodland Hills, depending on traffic. No, this is not some grand conspiracy to hand the second Wild Card to the Los Angeles Angels. Please. The Angels are the closest thing the A's have to a sustained intra-division rivalry.

As baseballgirl put it last night, Barry Zito is literally the best rested starter left. Zito is the 13th pitcher to start for the A's this season, not to mention Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin practically spending the entire year on the disabled list.

Brett Lawrie will be the designated hitter tonight while Sam Fuld will spell Billy Burns in center field.

First pitch is set for 4:05 PM.