Game Thread #148: A’s at Angels

The Oakland A’s are on a winning streak! They’ve won three in a row, and they’ll look to keep it going on Saturday in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.

However, they’ll do so without the starting pitcher they were expecting. The A’s were going to call on top prospect Daulton Jefferies to step into the rotation tonight, for what would have been his second MLB start of the year, but instead he went on the injured list with an elbow issue.

That means James Kaprielian will go instead. The right-hander is having a nice rookie year and has made 20 starts already, but he’s been showing signs of wearing down lately after a heavy workload and he was going to ease into the bullpen. He’s faced the Angels twice this year and looked good both times, most recently tossing six scoreless innings in July.

In the lineup, shortstop Elvis Andrus is back in action. He sat out one game Friday after being hit by a pitch in the ankle Thursday. Andrus went 7-for-11 in the three-game series against the Royals this week, and is batting .357 during a hot September.

A’s lineup (away)

1. SS Josh Harrison (R)
2. CF Starling Marte (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. LF Mark Canha (R)
5. RF Chad Pinder (R)
6. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
7. DH Khris Davis (R)
8. C Sean Murphy (R)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (R)

• RHP James Kaprielian

Murphy starts against the lefty pitcher.

Angels lineup (home)

1. CF Brandon Marsh (L)
2. 2B David Fletcher (R)
3. DH Shohei Ohtani (L)
4. LF Phil Gosselin (R)
5. 1B Jared Walsh (L)
6. SS Luis Rengifo (S)
7. RF Jose Rojas (L)
8. C Max Stassi (R)
9. 3B Jack Mayfield (R)

• LHP Jose Suarez

Let’s go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Saturday, September 18
• Time: 6:07 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