The Athletics enter this afternoon’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, facing the threat of being swept once again at home. After gaining momentum from Monday night’s crazy comeback victory, the Rays crushed six home runs on Tuesday night in a blowout series-clinching victory. Now, it is up to the A’s to salvage the series finale and avoid potentially falling to last place in the American League, capping the team’s swift fall from grace.
Roster Move
Before today’s game, the team shook up its bullpen as
it continues tinkering to find the best possible group of relievers.
Hayden Juenger returns to the majors four days after he was optioned to Triple-A in the wake of a bad relief appearance. Left-hander Drew Rom, whom the A’s claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, joins him. Rom, the team’s latest scrap-heap acquisition, will look to carve out a role in the A’s bullpen over the rest of the season.
Rom replaces Josè Suarez, who landed on the injured list with a right hip strain. Juenger takes the spot previously held by right-hander Yunior Tur, who allowed a three-run home run over two innings of relief yesterday before being optioned back to Triple-A.
Game Preview
Taking the ball for the home team will be right-hander Jack Perkins, who will face the Rays for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old enters his 29th appearance and 11th start of the season with a 2-8 record, a 7.04 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, three saves and 92 strikeouts across 76 2/3 innings pitched.
Last night, Athletics right-hander Mason Barnett turned in a poor start, allowing six runs on five hits, three of which were home runs, over just four innings. If the A’s want to have a chance at salvaging this series finale and avoiding another embarrassing defeat, they will need Perkins to step up and post a quality start, giving his team a chance to win.
Perkins enters this start in the midst of a rough stretch, as his last two outings did not go well. In his last start against the Boston Red Sox, Perkins allowed five runs on five hits over just three innings. He has not won any of his last seven games, compiling an 0-5 record with an 8.22 ERA.
Here’s how the Athletics’ lineup stacks up tonight for the series finale against the AL East foe:
Last night, Tyler Soderstrom rested to protect his ailing hip. Today, it’s banged-up Jacob Wilson’s turn to get the day off, with Donovan Walton starting at shortstop in his place. Zack Gelof starts at second base, his third position in three games since returning from the injured list. Right fielder Lawrence Butler, who hit a two-run home run yesterday, seeks to have another productive day offensively this afternoon.
The bottom third of this lineup stick out, which means the A’s need offensive contributions from one or more of them to have a shot at ending this series with a win. Wilson’s hitting approach has rubbed off on Tommy White, who has gone from a power-hitting slugger in college to a swing-at-everything singles hitter in the majors.
Tampa Bay meanwhile has Drew Rasmussen getting the start for them. The longtime leader of the Rays’ rotation earned a well-deserved second AL All-Star nod last month. The 31-year-old right-hander is having another excellent season, as he enters his 23rd start with an 11-5 record, a 2.75 ERA, an exceptional 0.91 WHIP and 130 strikeouts across 124 1/3 innings pitched.
Unlike Perkins, Rasmussen comes into his start today in unhittable form. He has not allowed a run in any of his past three starts, pitching at least six innings in all three games. Most recently, he tossed seven shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners, allowing only two hits while striking out eight.
Taking into account his dominance and the fact that the A’s lineup is missing several injured starters, this will be a difficult test for the A’s offense, which will have to capitalize on any mistake pitches Rasmussen leaves over the plate and any errors the Rays’ defense makes behind him.
And Tampa’s lineup:
The Rays lineup has certainly enjoyed the hitter-friendly confines of Sutter Health Park, scoring double-digit runs in both games of this series so far. Third baseman Junior Caminero has shown why he is one of the best power hitters in the league, blasting huge home runs in each game.
The strategy for Perkins is simple: He must throw strikes while avoiding middle-middle fastballs and hanging breaking balls. If he struggles for a third straight start, A’s manager Mark Kotsay will be forced to go to his bullpen earlier than expected for a second consecutive game.
Let’s get back to our winning ways and play some spoiler. Let’s go A’s!
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