We got a win yesterday! A great way to start off the series in Seattle and the A’s are riding a two-game winning streak. They’ll hope to make it three in a row this evening in the second of four games against the division-rival Mariners.
Before we get to the starters and lineups, the A’s announced a notable roster move just an hour or so ago. The team is demoting pitcher Jack Perkins to Triple-A, replacing him with Joey Estes:
The move
doesn’t have any direct impact on tonight’s game but it’s still notable. Perkins has been a starting pitcher for the better part of the past two months after beginning the year in a relief role. Neither situation seemed to work out for the right-hander as he struggled all season long. The A’s were content to let him try to work through things at the big league level but just couldn’t continue trotting him out there when he’s not ready. He’ll remain in Triple-A for probably the rest of the year before trying to regain his spot on the roster next Spring.
Estes meanwhile looks likely to get another look in the big leagues as a starter. He’s made one start for the big league team this year, pitching 4 1/3 innings of four-run ball against the Rockies in Sacramento. The righty has otherwise spent the entirety of the year with the Aviators. In 17 starts he’s sporting a nasty 6.88 ERA with nearly as many walks (44) as strikeouts (65) in just 85 innings of work. Doesn’t hurt to take another look at him in the big leagues though. This might be his last chance to reestablish himself with the A’s.
Back to tonight’s contest. Taking the ball this evening for the Green & Gold will be right-hander Kade Morris. Considered one of the better pitching prospects in the Athletics’ farm system, Morris made his big league debut earlier this year. That did not go well at all for the young righty as Houston shelled him for nine runs in his first appearance. He was soon optioned but has returned a couple times to the big league team as a bulk reliever. Tonight he gets another shot at starting. How will he do in his second chance as a starting pitcher?
Here’s how the Athletics will line up for the second game in Seattle:
The usual top of the lineup these days with Henry Bolte, Jeff McNeil, Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler occupying the top four spots in the order. McNeil and Gelof will make up the corner infield duo while Bolte and Butler remain in their usual defensive spots.
The left-handed Carlos Cortes draws the start in left field tonight against a right-handed starter on the opposing mound. Jonah Heim is back behind the plate after a half-day yesterday. Max Muncy is back in the lineup again as tonight’s DH. And our double play combo tonight is Alika Williams and Donovan Walton.
Meanwhile the M’s will have righty Logan Gilbert on the mound for them in this one. The 29-year-old has been consistently solid for Seattle this year, posting a 3.42 ERA through 27 starts. That’s solid production for them and he’s a big reason why they’re in the playoff hunt. He’s pitched twice against the A’s this season, first allowing three runs in just four innings way back in April before pitching six shutout frames at the end of May. Which pitcher will show up tonight to take on the short-handed A’s?
And the Seattle starting nine:
Three in a row? That’d be the first time for the A’s since June. Time to make it happen. Let’s go A’s!
Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA
Listen:
Athletics -Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast
