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Good afternoon folks! Hope you’re having a wonderful day at work or school or wherever you may be. There aren’t many true “firsts” left to experience in baseball, but the A’s will try to avoid being swept by the Rays for the first time ever.
Sonny Gray hasn’t been scratched yet and all indications are he will pitch today. He received high praise from Rays manager Kevin Cash earlier today.
#Rays Cash on #Athletics Gray: "He's about as good as anybody in baseball. He keeps the ball down so well.'' Similar to Archer w/slider
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 19, 2017
If my math is correct, after today, Gray still has two scheduled turns before the non-waiver trade deadline (one in Toronto and one at home against the Twins). He’ll be opposed by rookie Jacob Faria. Faria has dazzled through seven starts, most recently outdueling Chris Sale. Good as he’s been, he’s out pitched his FIP by almost a run and a half. If ever there were a time for a correction...
Both teams send out strong line-ups, especially for a day-after-night game. First pitch is at 12:35 and line-ups are posted below!
