Game Thread #54: A’s vs. Rays

As the saying goes, in baseball, every team will win a third of games and lose a third, so it’s the third that’s up-for-grabs that defines the season.

With today being being game #54, the A’s close their first third of the season, and if it constitutes the “up for grabs” third, that would be more than alright with me. To go .500 the rest of the way would be stellar, and with a win today, that would mean finishing four games up.

Trevor Cahill will take the mound as they as attempt to do so against Chris Archer, who is in the midst of one of the worst years over his career. Even better for the A’s, his biggest weakness might be his home run rate. However, though he hasn’t gone more than 7 innings in any start, Archer has showed flashes of his former self: over his last two starts combined, he threw 12.2 innings of 1-run ball, striking out 11 but walking seven.

Former A’s minor leaguers Joey Wendle and Daniel Roberston are starting at 2nd base and shortstop for the Rays, so brace yourself for a potential episode of “former A’s wrecking the A’s.” On that same note, Wilmer Font played one game in Tampa before coming with his new team back to Oakland – would any of us be surprised if now looks like an ace? Probably not.

First pitch is at 1:05.