Game Thread #52: A’s vs. Giants

Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images

Bay Bridge Series, The Sequel ... Part Deux

The Oakland A’s are officially in the 2020 postseason! And once they win another game or two, or the Houston Astros do some more losing, Oakland will have the AL West division wrapped up — their magic number is two with nine left to play.

Not only can the A’s wrap up their own postseason destiny, but they can do some spoiling for San Francisco. The Giants are exactly .500 at 25-25, third place in their division, and tied for the second wild card and thus the final spot in the NL playoffs. They’re tied with the Reds/Cardinals (one of whom will finish second in their own division), trailing the Phillies by a half-game (as the current No. 7 seed), and are ahead of the Brewers by just one game and the Rockies by three.

In other words, there’s not much Oakland can do to change their own October fortunes the rest of this weekend, but they can have a massive effect on the Giants’ future.

To that end, the A’s call on Jesús Luzardo to start on the mound. The rookie left-hander got knocked around a bit last time against the Mariners, but he may have been affected by the thick wildfire smoke in the Seattle air that night — after all, he was brilliant for his first few innings, in a game that should never have been played due to obvious health reasons.

The Giants respond with Kevin Gausman, who has been completely decent this year. His strikeout rate of 12 K/9 is an interesting, relatively new development, and when he saw the A’s last month he fanned 11 batters amid a mediocre start (and an eventual Oakland win).

First pitch is 1:10 p.m., with the following options to watch or listen:

• TV: NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM
• Online video stream: fuboTV
• Online audio stream: iHeartRadio

A’s lineup (home)

1. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
2. SS Marcus Semien (R)
3. DH Mark Canha (R)
4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
5. RF Stephen Piscotty (R)
6. 3B Jake Lamb (L)
7. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
8. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
9. C Jonah Heim (S)

• Jesús Luzardo, RHP

Piscotty is back, and playing the field instead of DH’ing. Can’t say I understand this move. What’s the rush? Why not give him like three days more than whatever you think he needs? This game literally doesn’t matter.

Giants lineup (away)

1. DH Austin Slater (R)
2. 2B Donovan Solano (R)
3. LF Darin Ruf (R)
4. 1B Wilmer Flores (R)
5. 3B Evan Longoria (R)
6. CF Mauricio Dubon (R)
7. SS Daniel Robertson (R)
8. C Joey Bart (R)
9. RF Luis Alexander Basabe (S)

• Kevin Gausman, RHP

Belt and Crawford out against the lefty starter, and Dickerson as well. Former A’s top prospect Robertson gets a nod to play against his original franchise at the Coliseum.

Let’s Go Oakland!