Fresh off a trip to the east coast to win two series against the Yankees and Orioles, the Oakland A’s will travel to Southern California to take on the Angels this week before returning home to take on the Yankees for two sets of three game series this coming week.
The AL leading Oakland A’s come into the week with a 39-24 record and have a five game lead against the Angels pending the results of their own game against the White Sox on Sunday. The A’s can really put some distance between themselves and the rest of the AL West if they can win at least two of the three in Anaheim.
All three games are night games and here are the expected starting pitching match-ups:
Monday, 6/9 @ Anaheim, 7:05pm, Jesse Chavez (5-3) vs. Garrett Richards (5-2)
Tuesday, 6/10 @ Anaheim, 7:05pm, Drew Pomeranz (5-3) vs. Tyler Skaggs (4-4)
Wednesday, 6/11 @ Anaheim, 7:05pm, Tommy Milone (3-3) vs. Jered Weaver (7-4)
Predictions: The bottom portion of the A’s rotation gets the call against a divisional rival as Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir pitched this weekend in Baltimore. The A’s need Jesse Chavez to get back to pitching the way he was early on this season. If that happens, look for the A’s to win the series.
The A’s will then return to Oakland to host the Yankees. This will be the second time the teams face off in as many weeks, with the A’s winning two of three at Yankee Stadium this past week. Oakland will once again catch the red-hot Masahiro Tanaka’s spot in the rotation to close the series.
Here are the expected pitching matchups for the weekend series in Oakland:
Friday, 6/13 vs. New York, 7:05pm, Sonny Gray (6-2) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (4-4)
Saturday, 6/14 vs. New York, 7:05pm, Scott Kazmir (7-2) vs. Vidal Nuno (1-2)
Sunday, 6/15 vs. New York, 1:05pm, Jesse Chavez (5-3) vs. Masahiro Tanaka (9-1)
Predictions: Let’s look for a repeat performance of this past week’s series, with the A’s taking two of three from the Yankees again.
Who’s Hot?
Despite a rough Friday and Saturday stretch where he went a combined 1-8, Brandon Moss had an otherwise monster week with three home runs and a batting average over .300. It is time to start the “Brandon Moss deserves to be in the All-Star Game” chirping.
In his last three appearance, Luke Gregerson has gone 4IP in relief while not allowing a run and striking out six. Sean Doolittle still hasn’t given up an earned run since April 26th and has fully taken control of the closer role for the Athletics.
Who’s Not?
Since going 3-4 against the Angels on 6/1, Alberto Callaspo went 0-19 before breaking out of his rut on Sunday in Baltimore. Jim Johnson’s last five appearances have all come in A’s losses. With rumors swirling that Billy Beane is looking to move the relief pitcher, it seems as if his time in Oakland is coming to an end.
A’s Roster Movement
Josh Reddick was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 6/3, which allowed the A’s to hold off on a roster move while activating Ryan Cook.
The A’s acquired LHP Justin Marks from the Royals on Friday (for cash) and optioned him to the minors on Saturday. The team also announced that it sent LHP Eric O’Flaherty to their Stockton club for a rehab assignment.