Game #27: Athletics vs. White Sox Game Thread

Looking to make it four straight wins

Afternoon A’s fans! Time to get back to it. The series against the White Sox continues Saturday afternoon at Sutter Health Park and the Athletics will be looking to make it four straight wins and take the series against the South Siders.

Taking the mound for the A’s will be lefty Jeffrey Springs. It hasn’t been an easy first month for him with his new team as he’s sporting a bloated 5.64 ERA after five starts, and that’s factoring in a six-shutout inning performance in his first start. He’s especially struggled in the first and second inning this year with ERA’s in the double digits in both frames. That has to be the focus for him this afternoon against a White Sox lineup that lacks intimidating hitters.

The A’s lineup for Saturday afternoon in Sacramento:

After playing in all 26 games the team is finally giving right fielder Lawrence Butler a day off. It’s probably well-timed as he’s gone just 5-for-30 with 12 strikeouts over the past seven games. That means the team needs a new leadoff man and there’s no more obvious candidate for that than Jacob Wilson. The young shortstop is coming off a 3-for-4 night where hit launched a home run and collected 3 RBI’s. He’s also leading the team with a .347 batting average, which is good for fourth in all of baseball.

Elsewhere in the lineup starting catcher Shea Langeliers gets the day off as well after catching all nine innings last night. Jhonny Pereda will take his place behind the plate and catching Springs. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom will take over at designated hitter while Brent Rooker will take Butler’s spot in right field. And Miguel Andujar gets back into the lineup for the first time since the arrival of first baseman Nick Kurtz, manning his usual left field.

That new-look lineup will be facing Chicago opening pitcher Tyler Gilbert for the second day in a row. The White Sox seem to be going with the exact same strategy as yesterday when they made a late change to Gilbert opening the game and pitching an inning before the previously-scheduled starter enters the game in the second inning. Chicago originally had righty Jonathan Cannon scheduled to start and he’ll likely be the “bulk” pitcher today.

The White Sox lineup breaks down like this for the middle game:

A lot on the line today. A 4-game winning streak. A winning record. Winning the series. A chance at a sweep tomorrow. And with a little luck the team could end the day tied for second in the AL West. That enough for you? Let’s go A’s!