The Oakland A’s are back to American League opponents, after a brief tour of interleague duty. Thursday they begin a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum.
On the mound for the A’s is Frankie Montas, who hasn’t completed six innings in either of his last two starts but did earn the win on Friday at Coors Field. His biggest weakness this year has been homers, with 11 in just over 60 innings, but the Royals are one of the least powerful teams in the majors (26th in homers).
Oakland’s lineup will face an old teammate in Mike Minor, who was acquired by the A’s last season and then signed in KC as a free agent. He’s made a dozen starts with average-ish results, and has continued striking out nearly 10 batters per nine innings but with similar dinger problems as Montas. Can the green and gold (8th in homers) take advantage?
A’s lineup (home)
- LF Mark Canha (R)
- DH Jed Lowrie (S)
- 2B Chad Pinder (R)
- 1B Matt Olson (L)
- C Sean Murphy (R)
- 3B Matt Chapman (R)
- RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
- SS Elvis Andrus (R)
- CF Skye Bolt (S)
- RHP Frankie Montas
Bolt starts for the first time this year!
Royals lineup (away)
- 2B Whit Merrifield (R)
- 1B Carlos Santana (S)
- LF Andrew Benintendi (L)
- C Salvador Perez (R)
- DH Jorge Soler (R)
- RF Hunter Dozier (R)
- 3B Kelvin Gutierrez (R)
- CF Michael A. Taylor (R)
- SS Nicky Lopez (L)
- LHP Mike Minor
How To Watch
- Date: Thursday, June 10
- 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