Game Thread #2: A’s vs. Astros

The Oakland A’s lost their Opening Day game on Thursday, but baseball brings another chance the next day. The A’s will look for their first win of the 2021 season on Friday.

They’ll do so behind Jesús Luzardo. The young lefty had a nice rookie campaign in 2020 and looks to continue his rise up to stardom, now armed with his Turkey Sub slow curveball but without his old goggles, replaced by contact lenses.

In the lineup, Rule 5 draft pick Ka’ai Tom makes his first career start, playing RF. He made his MLB debut last night as a pinch-runner, and went 0-for-1 at the plate, but he had a great spring to earn his way onto the roster.

Catcher Sean Murphy was scratch from the lineup “due to a right wrist contusion sustained in last night’s game,” the team announced, so Aramis Garcia makes his A’s debut behind the plate.

Houston turns to right-hander Cristian Javier. The A’s faced him twice last year and beat him both times, scoring seven runs in eight total innings. However, he did get some revenge in October, tossing 3⅓ scoreless frames in two relief outings against Oakland in the ALDS.

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
5. DH Mitch Moreland (L)
6. 2B Jed Lowrie (S)
7. SS Elvis Andrus (R)
8. RF Ka’ai Tom (L)
9. C Aramis Garcia (R)

• LHP Jesús Luzardo

Lowrie plays second base for the second straight day.

Astros lineup (away)

1. 2B Jose Altuve (R)
2. LF Michael Brantley (L)
3. 3B Alex Bregman (R)
4. RF Kyle Tucker (L)
5. SS Carlos Correa (R)
6. DH Yordan Alvarez (L)
7. 1B Yuli Gurriel (R)
8. CF Myles Straw (R)
9. C Martin Maldonado (R)

• RHP Cristian Javier

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Friday, April 2
• Time: 6:40 p.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast
• Pitchers: Jesús Luzardo (OAK) vs. Cristian Javier (HOU)