First-place in the American League West is up for grabs in this morning’s series finale between the Athletics and Texas Rangers. Following an 8-1 win in Friday’s series opener, the A’s blew an early 3-0 lead in yesterday’s 4-3 defeat. A win in today’s rubber match ensures a successful road trip for the A’s, who are seeking their second-straight series win over a division rival.
Right-hander J.T. Ginn will make his seventh appearance and fourth start for the A’s. The 26-year-old pitched well in his first
three starts of the season, although he remains without a win or a loss. This will be Ginn’s second start of the season against the Rangers. When he faced them last week in Sacramento, he only gave up two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. In his last start, Ginn held the Seattle Mariners to three runs in 5 1/3 innings. Athletics’ manager Mark Kotsay will be looking for more of the same from Ginn, who seeks to continue pitching well and earn his first win of 2026.
Here’s how Kotsay decided to put together his lineup for this morning’s contest:
Designated hitter Brent Rooker is back! He did not require a minor-league rehab assignment in his recovery from an oblique injury that sidelined him over the past couple of weeks. He immediately reclaims the cleanup spot in his return. If Rooker gets going offensively, it would make the A’s already potent lineup even scarier for opposing pitchers.
The team designated utility infielder Andy Ibáñez for assignment as the corresponding roster move. Ibáñez was barely playing recently and his role on the roster is redundant with Darell Hernaìz also on the squad. Hopefully he clears waivers and reports to Triple-A as infield depth in case Hernáiz or another A’s infielder gets injured and misses time.
Speaking of Hernáiz, he gets a second-straight start, this time at third base in place of a slumping Max Muncy. Lawrence Butler is back in center field following a day off yesterday. If he gets walked today, first baseman Nick Kurtz will make franchise history for the most consecutive games earning at least one walk. Last but not least, Carlos Cortes, a revelation for the A’s, remains in the lineup even with Rooker’s return. With the A’s down by one last night, Cortes continued his hot streak, hitting a pinch-hit double in the eighth inning. Unfortunately, his team left him there as that late-game rally fizzled out.
They will be tasked with going up against Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker, who enters his fifth start 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA. Rocker opposed Ginn when these two teams met last week, allowing two runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings. He’s coming off his best outing of the season, pitching six innings of one-run ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The big right-hander aims to carry that momentum into today’s start, so A’s hitters will need to be patient, look for mistakes and drive up his pitch count to reach the Rangers bullpen.
The Texas starting nine:
Ginn must be wary of shortstop Corey Seager and third baseman Josh Jung, who fueled most of the Rangers’ offense last night. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo and first baseman Jake Burger also loom as offensive threats for the hosts.
Time to win another series. Let’s go A’s!
