Rays at Athletics
After losing their top starting pitcher and All-Star closer in back-to-back days, the Oakland Athletics must be wondering what other surprises are in store for the rest of the month. Oakland can only hope for an uneventful afternoon Sunday when they face the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a four-game series.
Still reeling from the news about Frankie Montas’ 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Oakland received another blow Saturday when Blake Treinen landed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain. Liam Hendriks struck out two batters in the ninth inning to record his second career save in Saturday’s 4-2 win and will take over the closer role for the Athletics, who are 8-3 over their past 11 contests and one game behind Cleveland for the second American League wild card spot. Tampa Bay lost for the ninth time in its last 12 games and needs more production from All-Star candidate Austin Meadows, who is batting .125 over his last 13 games. Ji-Man Choi homered and Joey Wendle had two hits in Saturday’s loss for the Rays, who are 9-13 in June and in danger of ending a streak of five straight winning months extending back to last season.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 2.53 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (7-4, 3.68)
Stanek will serve as the opener in front of Ryan Yarbrough, who entered in the second inning last Tuesday and allowed one hit over three scoreless frames against the New York Yankees. The 27-year-old Stanek has thrived in his role as an opener and owns a 44-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 appearances across 42 2/3 innings this season. Yarbrough owns a 7.31 ERA in six home games this season compared to a 2.74 mark in five games away from Tropicana Field.
Anderson earned his first victory since May 26 with a stellar outing against Baltimore last Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) over seven innings. “The first three innings I thought that was some of the best stuff I’ve had all year,” Anderson told reporters. “The middle innings, kind of tapered off, then got better toward the end.” The 31-year-old is 1-1 with a 3.70 ERA in five career starts versus Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland starting pitchers have allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of the past 14 games.
2. The Rays placed INF Daniel Robertson (right knee) on the 10-day injured list, optioned RHP Austin Pruitt to Triple-A Durham and recalled LHP Adam Kolarek and INF Mike Brosseau from the Bulls.
3. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman is 14-for-34 during his nine-game hitting streak.