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Game Thread #30: Oakland A’s at Texas Rangers

First-ever trip to Globe Life Field in Arlington

By Alex Hall

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Arizona Diamondbacks v Oakland Athletics Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The Oakland A’s 2020 season hits its halfway point on Monday, as the green and gold play their 30th game out of 60. It will come in Arlington against the Texas Rangers, and it will also mark the A’s first trip to the new Globe Life Field.

Their first look at the new digs won’t be an easy one, as they’ll face ace starter Lance Lynn. The right-hander was excellent in 2019 and is even better so far this summer, with a 1.37 ERA through six starts and more than a strikeout per inning. He pitched against the A’s once already this season and worked into the 7th inning, allowing only one run on a homer by Matt Chapman.

Oakland counters with rookie Jesús Luzardo, who went against Lynn in that last matchup and tossed five scoreless frames in his first career MLB start. He’s now made four starts in addition to his two relief appearances, with a 3.67 ERA, 3.92 FIP, and a strikeout per inning.

The Rangers will look quite different this time, as they’ve placed eight players on the injured list since we last saw them. Among them are shortstop Elvis Andrus, outfielder Willie Calhoun, and six relievers including Jesse Chavez. They’ll also be limited by facing two southpaw starters in this four-game series, helping neutralize a couple of star lefty bats in their lineup such as Joey Gallo.

The A’s are 20-9, and the Rangers are 10-17. Anything less than a split would be a disappointment, but if Texas is going to challenge in any of these games then it’ll be the opener behind Lynn.

First pitch is 5:05 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. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
  3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
  4. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
  5. DH Mark Canha (R)
  6. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
  7. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
  8. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
  9. C Sean Murphy (R)
  • Jesús Luzardo, LHP

Same as yesterday.

Rangers lineup (home)

  1. CF Leody Taveras (S)
  2. LF Nick Solak (R)
  3. 1B Danny Santana (S)
  4. 3B Todd Frazier (R)
  5. C Jose Trevino (R)
  6. DH Robinson Chirinos (R)
  7. 2B Rougned Odor (L)
  8. SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R)
  9. RF Scott Heineman (R)
  • Lance Lynn, RHP

No Joey Gallo, Shin-Soo Choo, or Derek Dietrich, all lefty hitters.

Let’s Go Oakland!

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