Game #86: Dodgers at Athletics Game Thread

Last night, the A’s kicked off this homestand with their third-straight loss, proving no match for the superstar-laden Dodgers, who hit three home runs on their way to a 9-4 victory. The Dodgers continue to be a juggernaut as their 55-30 record is the best in MLB. The final two games of this series will be tough for the A’s, but back-to-back wins over the two-time defending champions would give the club a major lift heading into July.

Yesterday, rookie left-hander Gage Jump got knocked around for the first time in his brief MLB career. Today, the A’s will turn to veteran southpaw Jeffrey Springs, hoping he can limit the Dodgers’ powerful offense and keep his team in the game. The 33-year-old enters his 18th start with a 3-7 record, a 5.52 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 78 strikeouts over 88 innings.

Springs, who has not earned a win since April, has been performing particularly poorly lately. This will be his sixth outing in June, a month that has not been kind to him, as shown by his 9.97 ERA and 10 home runs allowed. The left-hander got back on track in his last start against the San Francisco Giants, earning a no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Springs has found success against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his career, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 1-0 record over 14 innings pitched. If he wants to earn his first win in some time and help the A’s snap their losing streak, Springs will need to keep the ball in the ballpark—something he has struggled to do this season. The Athletics would also benefit from at least five innings from Springs, given the bullpen’s vulnerability.

Here’s the A’s lineup for tonight’s contest:

A’s skipper Mark Kotsay is rolling with nearly the same starting nine from the series opener, as his team faces a left-handed pitcher for a second consecutive game.

The only change is in the outfield, where left-handed hitter Lawrence Butler is back on the bench after starting Monday night. Colby Thomas switches from left field to right. Recent call-up Joey Menesess, who normally plays first base, will make his first A’s start in left.

The middle-infield duo of shortstop Alika Williams and second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer played well last night. Kuroda-Grauer became the first A’s player with three hits in his MLB debut since Mark Canha. The A’s will need another strong performance from the bottom-of-the-order hitters, whose job is to get on base and turn the lineup over to center fielder Henry Bolte, slumping catcher Shea Langeliers and the force of nature that is first baseman Nick Kurtz.

The Dodgers meanwhile will have young left-hander Justin Wrobleski going for them tonight. The emergence of this 25-year-old pitcher, the club’s 11th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has been one of the most underrated stories of the Dodgers’ season. In addition to their winning pedigree and financial resources to attract top talent, Los Angeles’ farm system is among the best in baseball at developing prospects into MLB-caliber players.

Wrobleski enters his 14th start of the season with a 9-2 record, a 2.71 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 53 strikeouts over 86 1/3 innings. Even though he does not strike out many batters, that has not stopped him from shutting down opposing lineups. Wrobleski earned the win in his last outing, throwing seven innings of two-run ball against the Minnesota Twins.

The A’s offense must be patient, capitalize on pitches Wrobleski leaves over the plate and hope the hitter-friendly ballpark conditions work in their favor as they look to even the series and force a rubber game tomorrow.

And the Dodgers’ lineup this evening:

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Game #86: Dodgers at Athletics Game Thread

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