Game Thread #23: Oakland A’s at Arizona Diamondbacks

The Oakland A’s are on a four-game winning streak! And they’ve got the best record in the majors at 16-6! This 2020 season is going nicely so far.

The next test for Oakland is the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they’ll play four total games in a home-and-away setup (see the series preview here). The first two are at Chase Field, and Monday’s opener features Chris Bassitt on the mound for the A’s. The right-hander finally gave up some runs in his last outing, but still earned a win in a high-scoring game. Overall his 2.42 ERA and 3.27 FIP are both excellent.

Bassitt has never pitched at Chase Field, nor ever faced the D’Backs.

Meanwhile, Arizona counters with Zac Gallen. The right-hander had a superb rookie year in 2019, and so far he’s backing it up completely this summer. His 2.74 ERA, 11 strikeouts per nine innings, and four Ks per walk are all intimidating numbers, though he’s also allowed some homers this year.

Of course, the opposing starter hardly matters to this A’s team. No matter what they do (or don’t do) against him, they’ll always have a chance against the other team’s bullpen, on whom they’ve already tagged seven losses among Oakland’s 16 victories.

The A’s and D’Backs last played in May of 2018, resulting in wins by Frankie Montas and Daniel Mengden, and a loss by Sean Manaea. In Mengden’s win, he went the distance for a shutout, although only four hitters from that day’s lineup are still in Arizona (Peralta, Ketel, Lamb, Ahmed).

First pitch is 6:40 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. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
8. DH Vimael Machin (L)
9. C Austin Allen (L)

• Chris Bassitt, RHP

Hittin’ Machin gets another chance, after notching his first career hit a couple days ago. Allen gets a turn behind the plate.

D’Backs lineup (home)

1. RF Kole Calhoun (L)
2. 2B Ketel Marte (S)
3. CF Starling Marte (R)
4. LF David Peralta (L)
5. 1B Christian Walker (R)
6. 3B Eduardo Escobar (S)
7. C Carson Kelly (R)
8. DH Kevin Cron (R)
9. SS Nick Ahmed (R)

• Zac Gallen, RHP

No Stephen Vogt tonight, but we’ll surely see him over the course of four games. Kevin Cron is C.J.’s younger brother.

Let’s Go Oakland!