Tonight, the battered and bruised Athletics begin the second leg of their road trip, facing the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game weekend series. Both divisional rivals enter this series desperate for wins.
Earlier this week, the league-worst A’s suffered their first four-game sweep by the Kansas City Royals since 1994, while the Astros, who lead the American League West despite a .500 record, lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels. Over the next three days, the A’s have a chance to play
spoiler against an Astros club vying for yet another division title.
Additional Injury Updates
In addition to the team’s latest batch of roster moves, the Athletics announced a medical update on starting left fielder Tyler Soderstrom. The surgery is expected to alleviate the lingering hip pain he has been dealing with and help him return at full strength next season. Shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was officially placed on the injured list today, also could undergo surgery soon to address his ailing shoulder.
Game Preview
Right-hander J.T. Ginn will start tonight’s series-opener for the Green and Gold. The 27-year-old enters his 26th appearance and 23rd start of the season with an 8-7 record, a 3.53 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP and 114 strikeouts over 127 1/3 innings. Ginn, who began the season in the A’s bullpen, has emerged as the team’s best and most consistent starting pitcher during what has been a breakout campaign for the sinkerballer.
The right-hander will look to end his team’s four-game skid, earn his ninth win of the season and snap a three-start winless streak. In his last outing against the Texas Rangers, Ginn took the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings. He pitched well until tiring in the sixth inning, when the Rangers took the lead.
This evening will be Ginn’s first start against the Astros this season, although he faced them twice as a reliever in early April. He is 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA and 15 strikeouts in six career appearances against Houston.
Here’s how the Athletics stack up for today’s matchup:
The top three of Henry Bolte, Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof must set the table by getting on base and creating RBI opportunities for their teammates. Right fielder Lawrence Butler has been heating up lately. He will need to continue finding ways to get on base and help this injury-depleted offense score enough runs to remain competitive. In contrast, slumping catcher Jonah Heim will look to heat up at the plate in Space City.
Meanwhile, the Astros will send right-hander Hayden Wesneski to the mound. The 28-year-old enters his fifth start since returning from Tommy John surgery with a 2-1 record, a 5.16 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP and 18 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings. Wesneski took the loss in his last outing against the Seattle Mariners after allowing five runs on seven hits over four innings.
This evening, Wesneski will make his second career start against the Athletics, but his first with Houston. When he was with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, Wesneski allowed just one run over seven innings against the A’s.
He has the unfamiliarity advantage, as McNeil is the only member of the A’s starting lineup who has faced him before. Will Wesneski dominate the Athletics once again, or will the visitors find more success against the right-hander, who has just returned from a lengthy absence?
And Houston’s starting nine:
If the Athletics want to win, Ginn must tread lightly when pitching to AL MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez, who is pursuing a batting Triple Crown. Second baseman Jose Altuve, designated hitter Isaac Paredes and newest Astro Daulton Varsho are additional threats in Houston’s lineup. Lastly, former A’s player Nick Allen, batting ninth, will look to do damage against the team that drafted him.
Time to break this losing streak and end the week on a good note. Let’s go, A’s!
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