Game Thread #148: Athletics at Rangers

Today's pitching matchup should be interesting. Ross Detweiler (who makes pitching faces like Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes) is coming off of a tough last start where he went just four innings and gave up three runs on 6 hits and two walks against the Royals. Detweiller's weapon of choice? Four-seam fastball in the low 90's. Coming from Cleveland for cash, the A's picked up this seasoned pitcher (he's 30 after all) who actually had some good runs with the Nats, particularly in 2012 where he ended the season 10-8. The A's 2017 roster is a mystery to most of us (including David Forst, no doubt), so watching Detweiler today may give a sense of whether he makes the spring cut or not.

It's good to see his mound-opponent Colby Lewis back on the hill after his 60 day stint on the DL. A former Athletic for a short stint in 2007, it's always good to see a struggling athlete keep at the love of the game. A somewhat local guy (Bakersfield), he played in Japan in 2008 and 2009 before returning to be signed with the Rangers where he's been ever since. Colby is poised to get pounded (and pretty much was on Sunday against the Angels where he went just 81 pitches), and this game is really a post-season readiness game for him; he's 37 and so he will be hungry for success with the clock ticking on his career. Marcus Semien and Stephen Vogt should be breakthrough candidates for at-bat success since their career at-bats against Lewis are 0-13 and 1-20 respectively. They are due! Only Yonder Alonso and Danny Valencia have seen success against Lewis in the past.