Athletics look to keep rolling against Cardinals

Oakland has won three-straight series and are 6-2 over their last eight games.

The Oakland Athletics will continue their homestand Monday when they begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The A’s came from behind Wednesday to score a 7-6 win over the Nationals and clinched a third straight series win. Since starting the season 1-7, Oakland is 6-2 over their last eight games with series wins against the Tigers, Rangers and Nationals. While Oakland’s offense ranks 29th in the majors in runs scored, it is the pitching staff that has kept them competitive. The A’s are tied for fifth in the majors in pitching fWAR and are 12th in ERA and ninth in FIP. Their bullpen is fourth in fWAR and is fifth with a 2.73 ERA.

The Cardinals come into the series with a 7-9 record and are in last place in the NL Central standings. They began their road trip by dropping two of three in Arizona to the Diamondbacks and are 2-5 over their last seven games.

Monday, April 15, 6:40 p.m. PDT (NBCSCA+)

Sonny Gray (2024: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 27.8 K%, 0.0 BB%, 0.00 ERA, 1.25 FIP)

Former Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray will return to the Coliseum and will start Monday’s series opener for the Cardinals. The start of the 2024 season was delayed for Gray after he suffered a hamstring injury during the spring. He made his season debut on April 9 and was impressive tossing five scoreless innings against the Phillies while throwing 64 pitches. The A’s drafted Gray in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He spent the first five seasons of his career in Oakland before he was dealt to the Yankees in 2017.

Ross Stripling (2024: 3 GS, 18.0 IP, 17.7 K%, 6.3 BB%, 5.50 ERA, 3.25 FIP)

Ross Stripling will make his fourth start of the season for the Athletics in Monday’s opener. The A’s brought in Stripling with the hope that he could eat some innings in the rotation. He has done that logging at least five frames in each of his first three starts. He was hit hard last time out though allowing 11 hits and six runs in six innings against the Rangers. Stripling has a 5.48 ERA across 21 1/3 innings and seven career appearances against the Cardinals.

Tuesday, April 16, 9:40 p.m. PDT (NBCSCA)

Lance Lynn (2024: 3 GS, 13.2 IP, 29.5 K%, 9.8 BB%, 2.63 ERA, 4.79 FIP)

Veteran right-hander Lance Lynn will get the start for St. Louis in Tuesday’s matchup. Lynn inked a free agent contract to return to St. Louis this past offseason after posting a 5.73 ERA and a 5.53 FIP in 183 2/3 innings for two teams in 2023. The home run ball was a big problem for Lynn last season as he allowed a league-high 44. He is off to a good start for the Cardinals in 2024 but has already surrendered three homers over his first 13 2/3 innings.

JP Sears (2024: 3 GS, 15.2 IP, 10.6 K%, 9.1 BB%, 5.17 ERA, 5.55 FIP

JP Sears’ season got off to a bit of a rough start, but he is hoping to build off the momentum of a great start last time out. Sears allowed nine earned runs over his first 9 1/3 innings but took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his last start against the Rangers. He would exit having allowed just one hit and three walks over 6 1/3 innings. Sears has just seven strikeouts over his first 15 2/3 innings and five of those came in the start against the Rangers.

Wednesday, April 17, 12:37 p.m. PDT (NBCSCA)

Steven Matz (2024: 3 GS, 15.0 IP, 12.9 K%, 4.8 BB%, 1.80 ERA, 2.98 FIP)

Left-hander Steven Matz will get the start in Wednesday’s series finale. The often-injured Matz has gotten off to a good start for the Cardinals in 2024. He’s allowed two earned runs or less in each of his first three starts and has pitched into the fifth inning in all three. He allowed eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings in his last start against the Diamondbacks, but only one of the runs was earned.

Paul Blackburn (2024: 3 GS, 19.1 IP, 15.5 K%, 4.2 BB%, 0.00 ERA, 2.58 FIP)

Paul Blackburn will look to continue his scoreless inning streak in the series finale Wednesday. Blackburn hasn’t allowed a run over his first 19 1/3 innings of the season, which is a new Oakland record. He allowed five hits, two walks and struck out four over 6 1/3 innings in his last start against the Nationals. Blackburn has done a great job of suppressing contact and has a .193 BABIP over his first three outings. While that mark is unsustainable, Blackburn is healthy and proving to be an anchor for the Athletics’ rotation through the early going.