Game Thread #83: A’s vs. Rangers

Happy July! Today is my mom’s birthday. Happy birthday Mom!

Thursday also brings the rubber match of the Oakland A’s series against the Texas Rangers, as the two clubs split the first two games at the Coliseum this week.

The A’s go with Sean Manaea on the mound, after the lefty tossed six strong innings against the Giants last time out. He hasn’t faced the Rangers yet this year.

Meanwhile Oakland’s lineup goes against Dane Dunning. They last saw Dunning in the 2020 postseason, in a White Sox uniform in the AL Wild Card Series. Or at least, a few of them saw him, as he only faced four batters at the beginning of Game 3 (and allowed two singles) before getting an extremely quick hook — frankly a reckless move by his manager that helped cost Chicago the game and the series.

In fact, none of the four hitters who faced Dunning last October are in the lineup tonight, either gone (La Stella, Semien, Lamb) or injured (Canha). So never mind, this is effectively entirely the first time Dunning has pitched against these A’s, and literally his first time at the Coliseum.

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Tony Kemp (L)
2. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. 2B Jed Lowrie (S)
5. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
6. DH Mitch Moreland (L)
7. SS Elvis Andrus (R)
8. RF Seth Brown (L)
9. C Aramis Garcia (R)

• LHP Sean Manaea

Same as Tuesday but with Garcia catching instead of Murphy.

Rangers lineup (away)

1. SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R)
2. LF Eli White (R)
3. CF Adolis Garcia (R)
4. RF Joey Gallo (L)
5. DH Andy Ibañez (R)
6. 1B Nate Lowe (L)
7. 2B Nick Solak (R)
8. C John Hicks (R)
9. 3B Charlie Culberson (R)

• RHP Dane Dunning

How To Watch

• Date: Thursday, July 1
• Time: 12:37 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