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Game Thread #3: Oakland A’s vs. Los Angeles Angels

Series is tied. Let’s take the lead!

By Alex Hall
Kansas City Royals v Oakland Athletics Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels split the first two games of their season-opening four-game series, and now we’re on the third contest.

After a dramatic extra-inning win on Opening Day, the A’s came out flat Saturday afternoon in the follow-up, losing quietly 4-1. Sean Manaea was great up until the 5th, but then the Halos got to him, and meanwhile Oakland’s lineup never woke up. The one bright spot was rookie Jesus Luzardo, who made his season debut and nailed it with three sparkling scoreless innings.

But the sun rises again, and in baseball a new day means another chance to get back at it. Mike Fiers takes the mound this time, after carrying the rotation as it’s steady hand for most of the 2019 season.

The Angels counter with Shohei Ohtani, making his first pitching appearance since having Tommy John surgery in 2018. He faced the A’s twice in April of ‘18, his first two career starts in the majors, and won both times — his second outing featured seven scoreless innings and 12 strikeouts, which turned out to be his best performance that year. For what it’s worth, only five members of that day’s lineup are still on the team, and they’re five whom you won’t mind getting another crack at Ohtani.

A’s lineup (home)

  1. SS Marcus Semien (R)
  2. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
  3. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
  4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
  5. RF Mark Canha (R)
  6. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
  7. DH Vimael Machin (L)
  8. C Sean Murphy (R)
  9. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
  • Mike Fiers, RHP

MLB debut for Vimael Machin! He’ll DH, after Khris Davis went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts and two walks in the first two games. Murphy is back behind the plate, and Tony Kemp gets his first start at 2B, against the righty starter.

Angels lineup (away)

  1. 3B David Fletcher (R)
  2. CF Mike Trout (R)
  3. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
  4. LF Justin Upton (R)
  5. 1B Jared Walsh (L)
  6. SS Andrelton Simmons (R)
  7. C Jason Castro (L)
  8. DH Matt Thaiss (L)
  9. RF Brian Goodwin (L)
  • Shohei Ohtani, RHP

Ohtani on the mound means no Ohtani in the lineup; La Stella moves up instead. Otherwise, the Angels have packed the order with maximum lefties against Fiers.

Let’s Go Oakland!

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