Game #38: A’s vs. Mariners Game Thread

Series tie breaker with a lot on the line

It’s tie-breaker day in West Sacramento. The Athletics will take on the Mariners today to wrap up the three-game set as they hope to win the series and claw closer to first place in the AL West.

They’ll be relying on rookie right-hander Gunnar Hoglund to start this afternoon’s game strong. The former 1st-round pick only just made his major league debut last week and it was an impressive one as the 25-year-old fired off six innings of one-run ball against the Miami Marlins. He also racked up seven strikeouts without allowing a free pass in a successful debut. That continues what has been a strong season overall for Hoglund after he started the season in Triple-A. With the pitching depth being tested early the A’s would be thrilled if Hoglund can continue to grow into the fifth starter’s role and claim it for the long-term.

The Athletics’ starting nine for today’s series finale looks like this:

We have a change at the top of the lineup as shortstop Jacob Wilson and his team-leading .341 batting average take over the leadoff spot for Lawrence Butler. The right fielder is hitting just .176 over his last 15 games so a move down the order to the sixth spot should take some pressure off. Miguel Andujar is back at third base for the third straight day and batting cleanup. First baseman Nick Kurtz gets a day off while Seth Brown takes over in left field, sending Tyler Soderstrom back to the infield. And finally the lineup will be without Shea Langeliers after he caught both last night and the extra-inning game the night before last. Backup Jhonny Pereda will be behind the plate catching Hoglund today.

The lineup will have themselves a tough task today as Seattle will send righty Bryan Woo to the hill for his seventh start. Woo has gotten off to a hot start this year as his 2.58 ERA is ninth in the American League. He’s already faced the Athletics once this year, throwing six innings of one-run ball en route to his first win of the season. Let’s not repeat that again, shall we?

Seattle’s lineup this afternoon:

Let’s go A’s!