Game Thread #70: Athletics at Rays

Get ready for some early baseball as the Athletics finish up a quick trip to Tampa Bay. Yesterday, Mike Fiers and the bullpen kept the Rays down as the A’s took the lead off back-to-back homers.

Today, the Athletics send out Brett Anderson to try and take the series from the Rays. Anderson’s last few starts have been solid enough, but his ERA seems to have stabilized right below 4.00. The important thing Brett has done so far is to pitch innings, the last 7 starts Anderson has thrown at least 5 innings, and often 6+. This has been a huge boon to an A’s staff that more than anything needs to limit the innings the bullpen is throwing.

Yonny Chirinos starts for the Rays. In his second season in the majors, Chirinos has been very effective, his last start was 8 innings pitched against the Red Sox where he kept the Boston squad to 0 earned runs. Otherwise, Chirinos now sits at a 2.87 ERA after 7 starts and 69 innings pitched.

Lineups

Lineup Notes

• Khris Davis seems to be back, having hit a home run in 2 of the last 3 games.
• Matt Olson has bounced back from flirting with a .200 average at the start of the month. Olson’s homer put him at .228.
• Beau Taylor is catching today, on his second start of the season, and still looking to get his first major league hit of 2019.

In Stockton last night, A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo both threw a few innings as they both rehab. Looking promising as they had a combined 6Ks over 5 innings pitched.

The A’s look to take the series against the Rays, and keep it a winning road series with this morning’s game.

Go A’s!