Last night, the Athletics fell to 14-29 in series openers this season after falling to the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 in 10 innings. The A’s had a chance to win their third straight game, but they could not conjure enough late-inning magic. As a result, the team must win tonight to avoid falling into a 2-0 series hole and keep its hopes of winning the series alive.
A’s right-hander Jack Perkins will take the mound in this evening’s Sacramento Saturday clash. The 26-year-old enters his 32nd appearance and 12th
start of the season with a 3-9 record, a 6.68 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, three saves and 104 strikeouts over 90 1/3 innings.
Tonight, Perkins will get another chance to start. Following three straight poor starts, the right-hander’s last two outings have come in bulk relief of an opener, a role in which he has pitched better. In his last appearance, Perkins earned the win against the Houston Astros after allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits and five walks across five innings.
If Perkins wants to remain in the A’s rotation, he will have to string together some quality starts. The more games in which Perkins puts his team in an early deficit, the likelier he is to find himself back in the bullpen. When the A’s faced the Orioles earlier this season, Perkins pitched once in that series, allowing a run on a hit and a walk in 2/3 of an inning.
Last year, he recorded his first major-league win against Baltimore after allowing three runs on three hits over six innings. The Green and Gold would gladly take that kind of performance from Perkins tonight in the wake of yesterday’s extra-inning affair.
Here’s the lineup Athletics’ manager Mark Kotsay is going with today:
The injury-depleted A’s are rolling out nearly the same starting lineup as last night, with Donovan Walton the lone position player making his first start of the series. Throughout this homestand, the A’s have made a habit of scoring late in games, so some early offense and a lead would likely help Perkins settle down and put the team in a better position to win this evening.
The A’s offense will face Orioles right-hander Shane Baz, who has turned his season around after a rocky first few months with Baltimore. The 27-year-old enters his 27th start of the year with a 4-14 record, a 4.04 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 135 strikeouts over 151 1/3 innings. Over his last seven starts, Baz has posted a 3.63 ERA, yet is 0-5, largely because he has received the second-lowest amount of run support in the majors. The right-hander brings a 1-2 record, a 4.10 ERA and 27 strikeouts into his fifth career game against the A’s.
The Green and Gold will look to defeat Baz for a second time this season after tagging him for five runs on five hits in early May. Given how much better the Orioles pitcher has been lately, the Athletics will need to take advantage of any mistake pitches he leaves in the middle of the plate and use strategies like base stealing and bunting to create run-scoring opportunities.
And Baltimore’s starting nine for this matchup:
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Samuel Basallo are both back in the lineup after getting the day off yesterday. They are joined by elite power-hitter Pete Alonso and first baseman Coby Mayo, who recorded the game-winning RBI single in the tenth inning of the series opener.
It will be up to Perkins and the A’s bullpen to keep the Orioles’ offense in check and prevent Baz from receiving much run support. On the other hand, if the Orioles establish a sizable early lead, the A’s could have difficulty pulling off another comeback as they look to force a series rubber game tomorrow afternoon.
Time to even this series and get back in the win column. Let’s go A’s!
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