Reds at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics return home for six games beginning Tuesday with a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds after a disastrous road trip left them in last place in the American League West. Oakland completed a 1-8 trek with a 5-3 loss in 13 innings to Pittsburgh, which scored four runs after the Athletics put up two in the top of the frame.
“Pretty rough. The record speaks for itself. That’s all I got,” Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis told reporters after leaving Sunday's contest with a left hip injury as he collided with the side wall trying to catch a foul ball while playing left field in a National League park. Cincinnati begins a six-game road trip to the Bay Area after defeating San Francisco 12-4 on Monday behind a pair of home runs from Nick Senzel, the second overall pick in the 2016 draft. The rookie went 4-for-17 with three solo home runs during the four-game set - the first contests of his career - in which the Reds tied a club record with 15 homers in a series. Oakland's Mike Fiers has pitched better in his last two starts after a tough three-game stretch and starts Tuesday opposite Tyler Mahle, who endured a tough beat in his last outing.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBC Sports California
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (0-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Mike Fiers (2-3, 6.81)
Mahle allowed only a home run to Mets starter Noah Syndergaard among four hits with seven strikeouts in five innings of a 1-0 loss at New York on Thursday. It was a strong form reversal for the 24-year-old Californian, who yielded 13 runs and 25 hits in 17 innings over his previous three starts - all losses. Mahle, who has never faced Oakland, is 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA in four interleague starts.
Fiers permitted three runs and five hits in five innings of a 7-3 loss at Boston on Wednesday after allowing two runs and six hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of the Athletics' 4-2 setback at Toronto on April 26. The 33-year-old Floridian yielded six runs in each of his previous three starts and has allowed seven home runs in his last five turns. Cincinnati's Joey Votto is 3-for-11 with four walks against Fiers, who is 3-4 with a 2.60 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) versus the Reds.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics are expected to activate 1B Matt Olson (hand) from the injured list.
2. Cincinnati is 7-7 during a stretch in which it plays 20 straight days.
3. Oakland is 10-8 at home and 5-13 on the road this season after going 47-34 away from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum en route to earning a wild-card spot in 2018.