Game Thread #14: A's vs. Tigers

The Oakland A’s are on a winning streak! They’ve won five in a row, almost entirely canceling out their season-opening six-game skid in terms of the standings. Their record is now 6-7, just one game under the .500 mark.

They can get back to even on Friday with another victory against the Detroit Tigers, after winning the four-game series opener last night by a deceptively close 8-4 margin. They’ll turn to Frankie Montas on the mound, as the righty makes his third start of the season. He got blasted in his debut against the Dodgers but rebounded with a great outing against the Astros, and he’ll look to keep that momentum going against the least star-studded lineup he’s faced this year.

The A’s are without RF Stephen Piscotty, who went on the paternity list to attend to the birth of his son. Starting in right tonight is Seth Brown, who is off to an excellent start as he tries to finally prove himself in the majors. Oakland now has lefty-swinging infielder Vimael Machin available on the bench for the weekend, in place of Piscotty.

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. 2B Jed Lowrie (S)
3. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
4. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
5. 1B Matt Olson (L)
6. DH Mitch Moreland (L)
7. C Sean Murphy (R)
8. RF Seth Brown (L)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (R)

• RHP Frankie Montas

Brown has homered once every 10 plate appearances this year.

Tigers lineup (away)

1. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
2. SS Willi Castro (S)
3. DH Renato Nuñez (R)
4. 3B Jeimer Candelario (S)
5. C Wilson Ramos (R)
6. 2B Niko Goodrum (S)
7. 1B Jonathan Schoop (R)
8. RF Akil Baddoo (L)
9. CF Victor Reyes (S)

• RHP Jose Ureña

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Friday, April 16
• Time: 6:40 p.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California PLUS (the alternate channel)
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast