Game Thread #72: Athletics vs Angels

It’s Fathers’ Day! There are few better ways to celebrate family, love, and life than Sunday daytime baseball.

For the A’s, today is surely particularly special for Marcus Semien, whose second son, Joshua, was born just a few weeks ago on May 30th. Batting first, hopefully he can lead the offense to victory today.

As far as I can tell from some brief sleuthing, neither starting pitcher for today’s game has a child, both Daniel Mengden and Andrew Heaney childless (or child free, depending on their preferences). However, like in Cuba, where on Mothers’ Day, not only active mothers, but future mothers are celebrated for the importance they bring to the world, today, we can consider both Mengden and Heaney future fathers and appraise them all the same.

The A’s, winning a series against a non-Rangers AL West opponent, is at stake. The return to .500 is at stake. The general contentment and sobriety of fathers and future fathers everywhere is at stake. First pitch is at 1:05. Lineups are below.