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Oakland A’s Game Thread: ALDS Game 1 vs. Houston Astros

Opening the best-of-5 series

By Alex Hall
Wild Card Round - Chicago White Sox v Oakland Athletics - Game Two Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Oakland A’s are back in the ALDS! They’re here because they won an actual postseason series, the new Wild Card Round. It’s the first time they’ve advanced in any way since 2006, and they did it in the dreaded winner-take-all elimination game.

However, now they face an even bigger test than the young upstart Chicago White Sox. This week’s opponent is the Houston Astros, currently the biggest villain in the majors. They’re the defending American League champion, but everyone is mad at them because they cheated during the last few years and then showed no remorse when caught. They still don’t seem to understand why the public is mad at them. On top of that, they’re AL West division rivals.

Houston had a tough year on the field, as well. Injuries decimated their roster, costing them several stars, including 2019 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. But most of their biggest names are back, and they’re still loaded with championship talent. Still, they finished the season below .500, and only made the playoffs at all because of this summer’s expanded 16-team bracket.

The pitching matchup is Chris Bassitt against Lance McCullers, and you can click here to read much more about that pair. Both had nice seasons (including against each other’s teams), though Bassitt put up a far better ERA, and Bassitt is also coming off a legendary performance in the Wild Card Round. McCullers, meanwhile, wasn’t needed in Houston’s sweep over the Minnesota Twins, and hasn’t pitched since Sept. 26.

Click here to see the full rosters for both teams.

First pitch is 1:07 p.m., with the following options to watch or listen:

A’s lineup (home)

  1. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
  2. SS Marcus Semien (R)
  3. 3B Jake Lamb (L)
  4. RF Mark Canha (R)
  5. 1B Matt Olson (L)
  6. DH Khris Davis (R)
  7. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
  8. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
  9. C Sean Murphy (R)
  • Chris Bassitt, RHP

Davis gets the start (against a righty!) after homering in the Wild Card Round.

Astros lineup (away)

  1. CF George Springer (R)
  2. 2B Jose Altuve (R)
  3. LF Michael Brantley (L)
  4. 3B Alex Bregman (R)
  5. RF Kyle Tucker (L)
  6. SS Carlos Correa (R)
  7. 1B Yuli Gurriel (R)
  8. DH Josh Reddick (L)
  9. C Martin Maldonado (R)
  • Lance McCullers, RHP

After a season of injuries, the usual suspects are back. This is basically the full Astros lineup.

Let’s Go Oakland!

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