Having won the first two games of this series against the Seattle Mariners, the first-place Athletics enter this afternoon’s matchup at T-Mobile Park seeking to complete the series sweep and extend their road winning streak to eight games. It’s still early, but a road sweep of the defending division champion would signal that Mark Kotsay’s A’s are not to be taken lightly and are ready to contend in the American League West.
Today, right-hander Aaron Civale takes the mound for the A’s. The 30-year-old right hander is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA through his first four starts with the A’s. He pitched well in his first three starts, all taking place on the road. This past Friday, Civale did not fare as well in his first start at Sutter Health Park. Facing the Chicago White Sox, he allowed 11 hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings, suffering his first loss of the season. This afternoon presents Civale with a prime opportunity to rebound, as the Seattle Mariners’ offense has struggled and their ballpark is one of the most pitcher-friendly in the league.
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Here’s how the A’s lineup behind Civale will look:
Hoping to bring out the brooms, the A’s are running it back with nearly the same lineup as the previous two games. Zack Gelof returns to the bench after making two straight starts in center field. Austin Wynns is behind the plate, while fellow catcher Shea Langeliers serves as the designated hitter as he looks to homer for a third consecutive game. Lawrence Butler shifts to center field after the team placed Denzel Clarke on the injured list this morning. Meanwhile, his replacement, outfielder Colby Thomas, could get some playing time these next few games as he has been swinging a hot bat at Triple-A.
The Athletics lineup faces a tough task today against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert, who enters his sixth start with a 1-3 record and a 4.03 ERA. Gilbert is a major reason Seattle has one of the best starting rotations in baseball, as he can be tough to hit when he’s in rhythm. A’s hitters, especially Jacob Wilson and Max Muncy, must be patient at the plate and avoid chasing pitches from Gilbert that are not strikes. The Mariners’ bullpen has not pitched well this series, so the sooner the A’s chase Gilbert, the better their chances are of winning.
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Civale will face this lineup for the Mariners:
Seattle is likewise rolling out a mostly regular lineup for today’s matinee matchup. Civale must be careful when pitching to catcher Cal Raleigh, who has homered in each of the first two games of the series, matching Langeliers. Raleigh is not the only threat, with teammates Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor also poised to do damage at the plate.
Time to leave the Pacific Northwest with a sweep before heading to Texas to take on the Rangers. Let’s go A’s!
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