Game Thread #32: A's vs. Blue Jays

It’s a win streak! The Oakland A’s have taken three in a row, one against the Baltimore Orioles and then the first two of their four-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Coliseum.

They’ll look to ride the new wave behind starter Chris Bassitt. The righty has been quality his last three times out, with exactly six innings and two runs each day, resulting in a trio of A’s victories. His season ERA is down to 3.93, and he’s striking out three batters per walk.

Opposing him will be Robbie Ray. The lefty tends to pile up strikeouts but also walks, though both rates have been lower than his lofty norms through four appearances this year for Toronto. Despite being in the majors since 2014 and spending his whole career in either the NL West or the AL, the veteran southpaw has never faced the A’s before.

Oakland has a new name in their lineup, as catcher Austin Allen makes his season debut, after being called up yesterday to replace Aramis Garcia (illness). Allen played 14 games for the A’s in 2020.

A’s lineup (home)

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

• RHP Chris Bassitt

Andrus back in after a day off.

Blue Jays lineup (away)

1. 2B Marcus Semien (R)
2. SS Bo Bichette (R)
3. DH Vlad Guerrero Jr (R)
4. RF Teoscar Hernandez (R)
5. CF Randal Grichuk (R)
6. 3B Cavan Biggio (L)
7. LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr (R)
8. 1B Joe Panik (L)
9. C Reese McGuire (L)

• LHP Robbie Ray

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Wednesday, May 5
• Time: 6:40 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