Game Thread #26: A's at Rays

One more game at Tropicana Field this week! The Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays play the finale of their four-game showdown Thursday morning, with the A’s needing one more win to salvage a split. Oakland won the opener and then lost the next two, including a shutout defeat last night.

Fortunately, the A’s have their Opening Day starter on the mound in Chris Bassitt. The right-hander is coming off two straight quality efforts against the Tigers and Orioles, each time six innings with two runs. That might look good again today, but then again, it’s the same line Cole Irvin put up last night and it wasn’t enough for the victory.

Meanwhile, the Rays counter with Shane McClanahan. The lefty is a Top 100 prospect and is making his MLB regular season debut today, though he did already appear in the majors last fall in the postseason, making him just the fifth player in history and the first pitcher to make his debut in the playoffs.

A’s lineup (away)

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

• RHP Chris Bassitt

Olson gets a day off, with Moreland sliding from DH to 1B.

Rays lineup (home)

1. CF Kevin Kiermaier (L)
2. 2B Brandon Lowe (L)
3. LF Randy Arozarena (R)
4. DH Austin Meadows (L)
5. 3B Joey Wendle (L)
6. 1B Mike Brosseau (R)
7. C Francisco Mejia (S)
8. SS Willy Adames (R)
9. RF Brett Phillips (L)

• LHP Shane McClanahan

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Thursday, April 28
• Time: 10:10 a.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast