Spring Game Thread #31: Athletics at Giants

The regular season is just three days away, but in the meantime, there is more fake baseball. Fake baseball that looks an awful lot like real baseball! After a humdrum loss yesterday, the A’s look to “tie the series,” a series that will take on a little bit of extra meaning when the teams meet in the summer.

Lineups are below.

(The Giants lineup would be Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, Hunter Pence, Austin Jackson, and Derek Holland)

Thanks to the sanctity of spring training, the A’s will employ a DH in Khris Davis while the Giants’ starter Derek Holland, whom I have just now learned is no longer a Texas Ranger, will be batting. Frankly, it’s how interleague regular season games should be played since the National League loves their pitcher hitting so danged much.

Daniel Mengden is taking the mound for Oakland, making his final friendly start before assuming his role as “A’s de-facto #3 starting pitcher.” On defense, the A’s center field battle continues as Dustin Fowler rides the bench, Mark Canha starts at first base, and Jake Smolinski mans center.

First pitch is at roughly 7:10. Let’s go A’s!