Game Thread #145: A’s at Royals

Snap that skid!

It’s a losing streak. The Oakland A’s have dropped three in a row, all against sub-.500 opponents, two of them after blowing large leads. Their postseason odds are down to the 2% to 5% range.

On Wednesday they get a rematch against the Kansas City Royals, after losing the series opener last night.

Tonight the A’s call on Sean Manaea for the start. The lefty slumped in August but has looked great in September, tossing a pair of seven-inning gems against the Blue Jays and White Sox. He allowed three runs total in those two outings, with 18 strikeouts and just one walk.

The Royals were going to start veteran lefty Mike Minor, but he went on the injured list today due to his shoulder. Instead it will be righty Carlos Hernandez, who has made nine starts (2.92 ERA) and 13 relief appearances (3.95 ERA) this year. As a starter, he’s shown lower rates of both strikeouts and walks, and in both roles he’s kept the ball in the park. That said, he faced Oakland once in June (as a reliever) and allowed a homer to Matt Chapman.

Unfortunately, Chapman is out of the starting lineup again for the third straight game, after fouling a ball of his foot/shin on Saturday.

A’s lineup (away)

1. 3B Josh Harrison (R)
2. CF Starling Marte (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. DH Jed Lowrie (S)
5. LF Mark Canha (R)
6. RF Seth Brown (L)
7. C Yan Gomes (R)
8. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (R)

• LHP Sean Manaea

Same as yesterday, except Gomes catching.

Royals lineup (home)

1. 2B Whit Merrifield (R)
2. SS Nicky Lopez (L)
3. C Salvador Perez (R)
4. LF Andrew Benintendi (L)
5. 1B Carlos Santana (S)
6. DH Adalberto Mondesi (S)
7. RF Hunter Dozier (R)
8. 3B Hanser Alberto (R)
9. CF Edward Olivares (R)

• RHP Carlos Hernandez

Let’s go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Wednesday, September 15
• Time: 5:10 p.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast