After salvaging the final game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, the Athletics begin a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners tonight.
Following last fall’s run to the American League Championship Series, the Mariners entered this season as a trendy pick to win the American League. However, Seattle has failed to live up to expectations, entering with a 66-74 record, five and a half games behind the first-place Houston Astros and in dire need of a September
run to return to the postseason. It is the Athletics’ job to play spoiler as a series loss to a last-place squad is something the Mariners can ill afford.
A’s right-hander Jack Perkins will start the series opener. The 26-year-old enters his 33rd appearance and 13th start of the season with a 3-10 record, a 6.42 ERA, three saves and 109 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings.
Perkins will look to continue his recent success this evening in his fourth career game and first start against the Mariners. In his most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles, the right-hander took the loss despite allowing just one run on four hits over five innings.
Walks remain a problem, as he issued at least four in each of his two previous outings. Facing a Mariners team with some momentum after winning a series at Fenway Park, Perkins will need to limit free passes and avoid mistake pitches in the heart of the plate.
Here’s the Athletics’ starting lineup for this one:
Tommy White remains out of the lineup due to back soreness. Denzel Clarke, who is just returning from an extended injury absence, joins him on the bench after starting all three games in Texas.
The A’s stacked the top of their lineup with their best healthy hitters, all of whom need to contribute if the Green and Gold want to score runs and have a chance at winning. It will be a surprise if the hitters in the sixth through ninth spots provide much production against tonight’s Mariners starter. Shortstop Alika Williams, who homered yesterday, has been a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, third baseman Max Muncy is running out of time to shed the first-round bust label.
That aforementioned Mariners starter is elite pitching prospect and Minor League Player of the Year candidate Kade Anderson. Anderson, whom the Mariners selected third overall, and Jamie Arnold, whom the Athletics selected with the 11th pick, were considered the two best left-handed pitchers in last year’s MLB Draft class.
Both southpaws began their professional careers this year in Double-A. While Arnold experienced some initial inconsistency adjusting to the professional game, Anderson went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in his first 18 professional starts.
The A’s recently promoted Arnold to Triple-A. In contrast, Anderson bypassed Triple-A entirely. This evening will mark Anderson’s third big-league start and first against the Athletics. He did not look out of place in his first two outings, showing the ace-level potential that could boost a Seattle rotation that has underperformed relative to its lofty expectations. The A’s injury-depleted offense better be prepared for a challenge against a pitcher who balances out the Mariners’ right-handed-heavy rotation.
And the Mariners’ starting nine:
Perkins will have to be careful when facing the Mariners’ first four hitters, as all four have hit at least 20 home runs this season. Catcher Cal Raleigh has regressed after his historic season last year, but he has started to turn things around lately.
Today will be right fielder Lazaro Montes’ second MLB game and home debut. The 21-year-old’s power bat and Cuban nationality have earned him comparisons to Yordan Alvarez, adding an additional threat for Perkins and the rest of the A’s pitching staff to deal with.
Time to win a second straight game and play spoiler in Seattle. Let’s go, A’s!
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