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Game Thread #20: Oakland A’s at San Francisco Giants

Bay Bridge Series, begin!

By Alex Hall

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Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Welcome to the first half of the 2020 Bay Bridge Series! The Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants meet in the City this weekend for three games, and you can check out the full series preview here.

Friday’s opener was supposed to feature AL Player of the Week Frankie Montas on the mound for the green and gold, but he was scratched from his start due to back tightness, per a team announcement.

Instead, we’ll see hot rookie Jesús Luzardo, making his third career start. In his first two tries he tossed 10⅔ innings total, allowing just two runs and striking out 10 batters. The lefty also allowed seven hits and four walks.

Meanwhile, the Giants turn to Johnny Cueto. The right-hander essentially missed the last two seasons to Tommy John surgery, but he’s back this summer at age 34. However, it’s been a rocky return so far, with a 5.40 ERA and 5.48 FIP through his first four outings.

Oakland will also be without another star player, as outfielder Ramon Laureano begins his suspension from a brawl last weekend. He was initially tagged with a six-game penalty, but that was reduced to four on appeal, so he’ll return faster but will still miss this whole series.

The A’s enter the day with the best record in the AL at 13-6, putting them in first place in the AL West so far. The Giants are 8-12, in last place in the NL West.

First pitch is 6:45 p.m., with the following options to watch or listen:

  • TV: NBC Sports California
  • Radio: 960 AM
  • Online video stream: fuboTV
  • Online audio stream: iHeartRadio

A’s lineup (away)

  1. SS Marcus Semien (R)
  2. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
  3. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
  4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
  5. CF Mark Canha (R)
  6. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
  7. DH Khris Davis (R)
  8. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
  9. C Sean Murphy (R)
  • Jesús Luzardo, LHP

With Laureano out, Kemp moves up to the second spot for OBP purposes, and Davis gets some playing time with the DH position freed up.

Giants lineup (home)

  1. CF Mike Yastrzemski (L)
  2. 2B Donovan Solano (R)
  3. 3B Evan Longoria (R)
  4. 1B Wilmer Flores (R)
  5. RF Hunter Pence (R)
  6. LF Darin Ruf (R)
  7. DH Pablo Sandoval (S)
  8. C Chadwick Tromp (R)
  9. SS Mauricio Dubon (R)
  • Johnny Cueto, RHP

Lots of righty hitters in there against Luzardo. No Austin Slater though, who is hurt at the moment. Solano and Yaz are the hot hands right now.

Let’s Go Oakland!

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