Game Thread #97: Athletics at Giants

The final game of the first half of the season has arrived. It is safe to say that the green and gold have succeeded expectations so far this year, whether most of the baseball world has realized it or not, and the team is refreshingly in the playoff hunt. The team’s success owes a rather sizeable thanks to Jed Lowrie and Blake Treinen, two guys who are more than likely going to be standing on the playing field during Tuesday’s All Star Game.

A’s ace Sean Manaea is seeking to end his first half as well as he started it, as Manaea has bookended his 2018 season to date with a string of strong starts (his last start versus the Astros notwithstanding). Manaea was frustratingly inconsistent during the month of May and parts of June, following his historic no-hitter, but the lefty is showing flashes of his early-season dominance once again. Going up against fellow left-hander Andrew Suarez, Manaea will have to bring his best stuff to the mound.

The rivals have split the first two of six games in the now-annual Bay Bridge Series, and are playing one final game in San Francisco before the series shifts to Oakland. First pitch is at 1:05. Lineups are below.