Happy Labor Day everyone! The A’s are off to Missouri as the travel to St. Louis to start their road trip. First up we got three games against the Cardinals as the A’s look to snap their three-game losing streak and get back in the win column. The Cardinals are all but eliminated and it’d take nothing short of a miracle for them to sneak into the playoffs. A series win would officially kill their October dreams.
The A’s will go with rookie right-hander Luis Morales to start today’s contest. Morales,
considered one of the top young arms in the Athletics’ farm system, has impressed in his short stint with the big league squad. Over his first 22 2/3 innings Morales is sporting a pristine 1.19 ERA over 5 appearances (4 starts). He’ll look to continue his quick start with the A’s this afternoon against a Cardinals team that is on life support.
The starting lineup for the first game in St. Louis breaks down like this:
Still no Nick Kurtz, who got an encouraging health update regarding his oblique but has yet to return to game action or be put on the IL. That means we get Lawrence Butler back atop the lineup leading off. Strangely, starting catcher Shea Langeliers remains out of the lineup after missing yesterday’s finale, with backup Willie MacIver instead behind the plate catching Morales. Jacob Wilson is back in the 2-hole followed by power bats Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom. Rookie infielder Darell Hernaiz draws another start today, this time at the hot corner. Fellow rookie Colby Thomas and JJ Bleday will man the outfield corners and Zack Gelof is at second base again this afternoon.
We will be seeing a familiar face on the opposing mound this afternoon. Former staff ace Sonny Gray will be taking the ball for the Cardinals against his former team, making his 28th start of the season. The veteran righty is suffering through one of the worst seasons of his career but he’s still manage to post a respectable 4.19 ERA this year. He’s coming off a pair of quality starts coming into this one.
St. Louis’ batting order for the first game of the series:
Let’s get a holiday win, shall we? Let’s go A’s!
