Happy Friday A’s Fans!
Today, the Athletics begin a three-game series against their American League West rival, the Los Angeles Angels. These two teams have matched up often over the past few weeks. Towards the end of May, the A’s won three of four in Los Angeles, capturing two victories in dramatic extra-inning games. Last weekend, the “Green and Gold” and the “Halos” split four games in West Sacramento, with the Angels winning the final two games of that series.
Yesterday, the A’s scored seven unanswered
runs to rally past the San Francisco Giants, salvaging the final game of that three-game interleague series. Now, the team must carry that momentum into this weekend. They cannot afford to drop this series against the last-place Angels, especially with Mike Trout still on the injured list.
Right-handers J.T. Ginn, Jack Perkins and Aaron Civale will start for the A’s in their penultimate series against the Angels this season. In Ginn’s most recent outing at Angel Stadium, he came three outs shy of his first career no-hitter. Can he record another quality performance tonight in his second consecutive start against this team or will he take a step back?
From the other dugout, A’s hitters will face the Angels’ promising young right-hander Walbert Ureña and left-hander Reid Detmers in the first two games of the series. Los Angeles has not yet announced its starter for Sunday’s finale.
Backup catcher Jonah Heim has arguably been the A’s most clutch hitter over these past few weeks. Whenever he has batted in the ninth inning, he has delivered, recording huge hits to either tie the game or give the A’s the lead.
The organization’s savvy move to trade for him and then retain him instead of fellow backstop Austin Wynns has paid dividends. Look for Heim to continue receiving opportunities in big late-game situations, as he has come through more often than not.
Additionally, center fielder Henry Bolte appears to have emerged as the solution to the A’s center field and leadoff spot concerns. While his defense in center field is not too much of a drop off from Denzel Clarke’s, his combination of speed and power gives him greater offensive upside and makes him a natural fit atop the lineup in front of Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz.
Will Bolte and Heim continue to contribute this weekend, or will another unexpected A’s player rise to the occasion?
A’s Coverage:
- A’s Avoid Sweep With Late Comeback Versus Giants
- It’s Harder To Win When You Don’t Understand Your Own Personnel
- A’s Suffer Heartbreaking Defeat Against Giants
- Fun Parallels To 2012 Emerging
- Robbie Ray Stymies A’s as Giants Take Game No. 1
- A’s roster moves: Gelof to IL, Williams recalled
- A’s Squander Chances, Fall to Pirates in Series Equalizer
- As a ballpark rises in Las Vegas, owner John Fisher is pitching his A’s — and himself
- What’s next for the Oakland Coliseum? The future is ‘not bright’
- Alvarado’s return so dominant, he’s inviting a lofty comparison
- Why Front Office And Manager Should Be Embarrassed By Today’s Game
- Some Easy Fixes Rocket Science Aren’t
- Athletics’ Devin Taylor Emerges As All-Around Talent
- From celebratory pool dip to the A’s, Meneses’ journey back to Majors a memorable one
- Athletics Could Deal Hottest Triple-A Bat This Summer
- Status Report: Uncertainty Persists In 5 Places On The Diamond
MLB News and Interest:
- Phase 1 results are in! Here are the finalists to start All-Star Game
- Clement earns most votes in AL, to start at 2B in first All-Star Game
- MLB’s latest CBA proposal includes minimum salary increase, free agency revisions
- MLB owners’ proposal to reshape path to pros runs counter to growing the game
- More than 100 MLB players ranked the best and worst organizations: Inside our anonymous poll
- Cubs rotation takes 2 more blows as Cabrera, Brown hit IL
- 3 key reasons Peterson should improve after trade to Cubs
- Yanks to put McMahon on IL, but Oswaldo set for return (report)
- The team that invented openers very nearly got a no-hitter out of one
- Diamondbacks Designate Carlos Santana For Assignment
- Marlins improve to MLB-best 16-5 in June in Eury’s return
- Twins GM says club has ‘no plans’ to trade OF Byron Buxton
- Mets move scuffling Kodai Senga to bullpen after loss
- Cardinals elevate Bill DeWitt to chief executive officer
- Braves Designate Carlos Carrasco For Assignment, Select Ian Hamilton
- Cy Young poll: New leader in loaded NL race; AL favorite solidifies standing
- Cubs’ Craig Counsell perplexed by rainout, irked by ‘bad rule’
- Stearns says there’s still time for Mets to contend this season
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
This situation appears unlikely to end anytime soon. Unless Major League Baseball and the players’ union reach a compromise, the league seems headed toward a lockout on December 1st.
Somehow, the A’s bullpen is not the worst in the majors.
Unfortunate injury news for one of the A’s top minor-league prospects.
Congrats to A’s trainer Jeff Collins on being selected to work the All-Star Game. This is an incredible opportunity and a well-deserved honor.
