Game #64: Athletics vs. Twins Game Thread

Trying to avoid the second double-digit losing streak of the season

The A’s are getting dangerously close to another massive losing streak that reaches double digits. A loss to the Twins today would secure the home sweep at the hands of their AL Central foes and drop them farther from contention, which is slipping farther and farther away by the day.

The Athletics kept their cards close to the chest all series and that remained the same for the finale. We do finally know how the team’s plans for today: right-hander Mitch Spence will get the ball today for his first start of the season. We don’t know how long he’ll go for today and we don’t know if this is a planned role change for a pitcher that made 24 starts for the club this season. Today’s outing should provide answers.

The Athletics’ starting nine for the series finale:

Starting backstop Shea Langeliers predictably gets the day off behind the plate after catching all three games of the series. Only a half day him though as he’ll DH while Brent Rooker grabs his glove and takes over in left field today. Rookie Max Muncy is back at third base for the second consecutive day while second baseman Luis Urias gets the day off, with Max Schuemann taking his place at the keystone.

The Twins also kept their starter close to their chest. After having right-hander Bailey Ober listed as the probable starter all week they removed him from the schedule yesterday, leaving the starting pitcher TBD until this morning. The Twins announced that rookie right-hander Matt Festa will take the ball for the finale this afternoon. In three starts for the Twins this season he has an impressive 1.38 ERA.

Minnesota’s starting lineup for the finale shakes out like this:

Carlos Correa remains out of the starting lineup for the Twins but the rest of their regulars are in there for the final game of the series. They mean business and want this four-game sweep.

Please avoid another 10-game losing streak guys! Let’s go A’s!