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After coming back from a 9-0 deficit in Monday’s game that ended in a 9-9 tie with the Chicago White Sox, the Athletics will take on the Texas Rangers today at Hohokam Stadium.
It should stand to be an interesting day at the yard today as we will get to see the much-anticipated debut of the A’s number four prospect, speedy Jorge Mateo. While not in the starting lineup, MLB.com’s Jane Lee has confirmed that Mateo will make an appearance in today’s game, taking over for Marcus Semien who will lead off at shortstop. Here’s today’s full starting lineup:
- Marcus Semien, SS
- Franklin Barreto, 2B
- Jed Lowrie, DH
- Khris Davis, LF
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Matt Chapman, 3B
- Chad Pinder, RF
- Boog Powell, CF
- Josh Phegley, C
The team will also welcome the spring debut of starter Sean Manaea to hopefully add some stability to what has been, with the exception of the young phenom A.J. Puk, a very shaky starting rotation.
Manaea will be facing off against a former-Athletic in the soon-to-be 45-year-old Bartolo Colon, who signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in early February.
Colon, who is coming off of a terrible 2017 season, is vying for a spot in the Rangers rotation. He stands to make a $1.75 million salary plus $1.25 million in incentives should he make the team’s MLB roster. If that doesn’t happen, however (but who are we kidding? Don’t we all want to see Big Sexy back on the mound in 2018?), his contract does contain a March 24 opt-out clause.
Fun Fact: Another familiar face will be in the Rangers’ lineup today as Trevor Plouffe will bat second and start the game playing at third base.
