More baseball! For those of us unsatisfied with yesterday’s contest we get another game today to get our first win of the season this afternoon. Time for a win!
The A’s will be going with a veteran for today’s start as Luis Severino gets the ball for the first time this spring. The leader of the starting rotation, we’re all hoping for better results here in Year 2 of his deal and it seems like he’s ready to put last year’s struggles in the rearview mirror as well.
“Yeah, I think everybody is more comfortable. The pitchers had a year in Sacramento to figure out what we need to do. I think this year, we just need to stop making excuses, go out there and compete, and try to win more games.”
Love the sound of that! The A’s won’t be going anywhere if Sevy doesn’t step his game up and this is the type of attitude he needs to have right out of the gate. Are we set for a massive season for Severino? He does have an opt-out after the season concludes so in a sense he’s pitching for a potential next contract. He’ll be an interesting player to watch over the coming months.
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Other pitchers we are expected to see today include Luis Morales, Wei-En Lin, Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang, and Kade Morris. Morales looks to have a spot in the rotation more or less in the bag and just needs to get through spring without an injury or obvious ineffectiveness. Lin, Zhuang, and Morris meanwhile are unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster but could each be an option for the team later this summer. Pitching will be interesting to watch this afternoon.
Here’s how the starting lineup looks for the second game of Spring Training:
Lots of Opening Day starters in today’s lineup! In fact, this could very well end up being the regular batting order that manager Mark Kotsay intends to use this season. There’s been a lot of debate and discussion about first baseman Nick Kurtz’s lineup spot this coming season but it seems like Kotsay is genuinely planning to have Kurtz atop the lineup in some way or fashion. One would think a potential 50-homer bat would be hitting third or cleanup, but not with our A’s. Where he bats in the lineup will be another thing to keep an eye on this spring.
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Here’s how the Guardians will line up for their game today against our Athletics:
No regulars in Cleveland’s lineup this afternoon so hopefully that helps the pitchers have a strong day on the bump.
Who is ready for more spring baseball? Time to secure that first win. Let’s go A’s!
