clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Game Thread #35: Oakland A’s vs. San Diego Padres

They’re baaaaaack

By Alex Hall

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Where were we?

The Oakland A’s are playing for the first time in nearly a week. When we last saw them, they were getting swept in a Saturday doubleheader by the Houston Astros, but Oakland is still atop the AL West division by two games. At 22-12, they’re the second-best club in the American League, behind just the Tampa Bay Rays.

Now they’ll get their toughest test of the season so far, as the San Diego Padres are stacked and hot. They’ve won 12 of their last 16 games, and they’re the No. 4 seed in the NL as the second-place squad with the best record. Their lineup is mammoth, their starting rotation is doing great, and they have an old A’s lefty dominating in the closer role in Drew Pomeranz.

In Friday’s opener, we’ll see right-hander Zach Davies for the first time since 2016. Back then he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, and he beat Oakland with a quality seven-inning start. The 27-year-old is even better now, with a 2.61 ERA and 3.26 FIP.

However, the A’s have some tricks of their own. They’ll counter the highest-scoring lineup in the majors with one of the hottest young pitchers in the sport, as Jesús Luzardo makes his next start. He was quality each of his last two times out, working into the 7th in both games. Being a southpaw could also help him neutralize a few key lefty hitters, and it’s keeping A’s nightmare Mitch Moreland out of the lineup entirely.

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 (home)

  1. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
  2. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
  3. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
  4. DH Mark Canha (R)
  5. 1B Matt Olson (L)
  6. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
  7. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
  8. SS Vimael Machin (L)
  9. C Sean Murphy (R)
  • Jesús Luzardo, LHP

Marcus Semien is still out for now, so Laureano moves up and Machin takes a turn at shortstop.

Padres lineup (away)

  1. SS Fernando Tatis Jr (R)
  2. 3B Manny Machado (R)
  3. 1B Eric Hosmer (L)
  4. C Austin Nola (R)
  5. RF Wil Myers (R)
  6. 2B Jake Cronenworth (L)
  7. DH Luis Campusano (R)
  8. LF Jurickson Profar (S)
  9. CF Trent Grisham (L)
  • Zach Davies, RHP

Everyone in the infield has an OPS of .950 or higher. The ninth man has eight dingers. Jeez.

Let’s Go Oakland!

More From Athletics Nation