Game Thread #17: White Sox at Athletics

The A’s managed to avoid getting swept by the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on Sunday, thanks to a continued hot start to the season by new team ace, Sean Manaea, and, Jed Lowrie, who hit a two run homer off of King Felix in the first inning and, who also currently leads the American League in hits with 22 (threw that last part in for fun because, well it is fun!)

Facing the Chicago White Sox

This week the A’s are moving onto their sixth series of the season against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox are currently 4-8 and sitting in third place in the AL Central. Technically the A’s should have a good chance to do well in this series as the White Sox are also a young team with young pitching. Even though they have the likes of Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu in their lineup, the A’s lineup has more power and has been more productive this season offensively.

Where could things go wrong?

As usual things could go wrong for the A’s due to their pitching woes (with the obvious exception of Manaea). Tonight’s game features Daniel Mengden on the mound for the Athletics and another young pitcher, Reynaldo Lopez on the mound for the White Sox. So far this season Mengden has allowed 11 runs in just 16 innings pitched over three starts. Lopez on the other hand has allowed one run in 13 innings pitched over two starts this season.

The A’s should also be cautious given that the White Sox have gotten a bit of extra rest this season, especially this past weekend — as their three games out of their four game series with the Minnesota Twins were postponed due to weather.

Here are today’s lineups:

And remember for Twitter coverage of tonight’s game — follow @matthewkawahara who will be taking over for Susan Slusser. And now let’s get ready for some A’s baseball!

Let’s Go Oakland!