Game Thread #123: A’s vs. Giants

Welcome to the second installment of the 2021 Bay Bridge Series! The San Francisco Giants won two of three games at Oracle Park in June, and now the Oakland A’s will have a chance to respond in a three-game series at the Coliseum.

It feels like everything has gone wrong for the A’s this season, and to make it even worse, the Giants weren’t supposed to be good but somehow have the best record in the majors. They signed a bunch of unexciting free agents who all immediately morphed into stars, and their aging core of mid-30s veterans are all turning in career-best performances. It’s like watching the richest kid you know go and win the lottery.

Oakland faced Giants starter Alex Wood in that June series, and he pitched into the 6th inning and limited the A’s to two runs — one of them on a wild pitch. He struck out eight batters in that game, but for what it’s worth he didn’t have to face Mark Canha, who was injured at the time but is now back.

For the green and gold, James Kaprielian hasn’t pitched against the Giants this year, but he did make his MLB debut against them last summer. In that game he threw two innings and allowed a solo homer to Brandon Crawford.

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. CF Starling Marte (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. DH Jed Lowrie (S)
5. C Yan Gomes (R)
6. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
7. 2B Josh Harrison (R)
8. RF Chad Pinder (R)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (R)

• RHP James Kaprielian

Oakland activated Pinder from the injured list today.

Giants lineup (away)

1. RF LaMonte Wade Jr (L)
2. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
3. C Buster Posey (R)
4. 1B Brandon Belt (L)
5. LF Kris Bryant (R)
6. SS Brandon Crawford (L)
7. DH Alex Dickerson (L)
8. 3B Wilmer Flores (R)
9. CF Mike Yastrzemski (L)

• LHP Alex Wood (R)

Let’s go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Friday, August 20
• 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