Game Thread #41: A’s at Twins

The Oakland A’s have played the Minnesota Twins four times this year and won each game, including last night’s four-homer slugfest. The two teams meet up Saturday for their fifth contest together.

The A’s start the game with Cole Irvin on the mound. The lefty has been quality each of his last three times out, all against the contending Rays and Blue Jays, and he’s allowed just seven total earned runs in his last five appearances combined for a 2.01 ERA during that span.

The Twins go with Jose Berrios, a two-time All-Star. The right-hander faced Oakland in April and allowed just one run over five innings, but took the loss when his teammates were shut out. Overall this season he’s got a 3.49 ERA with strong rates of strikeouts, walks, and homers to back it up (3.21 FIP).

Can the A’s make it 5-0 against the Twins? Or will Minnesota finally get one?

A’s lineup (away)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. DH Seth Brown (L)
3. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
5. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
6. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
7. SS Chad Pinder (R)
8. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
9. C Aramis Garcia (R)

• LHP Cole Irvin

Pinder back in the lineup!

Twins lineup (home)

1. RF Kyle Garlick (R)
2. 3B Josh Donaldson (R)
3. DH Nelson Cruz (R)
4. C Mitch Garver (R)
5. 2B Jorge Polanco (S)
6. LF Rob Refsnyder (R)
7. 1B Miguel Sano (R)
8. CF Max Kepler (L)
9. SS Andrelton Simmons (R)

• RHP Jose Berrios

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Saturday, May 15
• Time: 1:05 p.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