​Last night, the Athletics extended their losing streak to four games after dropping the opener of their three-game series with the Detroit Tigers, 6-2. Oakland had a real chance to steal the game after bullpenizing Tarik Skubal following five innings while only trailing by a single run, but a miscommunication between two A’s players on a pop fly to shallow right field sparked a two-out rally for Detroit. The Tigers widened their lead from 2-1 to 6-1, effectively sealing the win and leaving the A’s to lick their wounds.
Today, left-hander Jeffrey Springs will get the start for Oakland as they look to rebound and even the series, potentially forcing a decisive finale tomorrow. Springs, 33, is making his 19th appearance of the season. His current line stands at 3-8 with a 5.79 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and 80 strikeouts over 93 1/3 innings. After a hot start to the season, Springs has hit a rough patch in recent months. His ERA ranks among the highest in the majors, and he has surrendered more home runs than any other pitcher.
A big part of Springs’ struggles can be traced to pitching in the hitter-friendly environment of Sutter Health Park, which is notoriously tough on fly-ball pitchers. The split is stark: he’s allowed 16 home runs at home compared with eight on the road. In his last outing, he yielded two more long balls in a loss to the Dodgers, giving up six runs on eight hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. The ballpark in Comerica Park, by contrast, tends to be more pitcher-friendly, especially for a pitcher who relies on fly balls. In Detroit, a ball that might have cleared the fence at Oakland’s home park often becomes a long out, making this an especially favorable spot for Springs to deliver a quality start and record his first win since April.
Oakland’s lineup for this afternoon’s game features several changes and adjustments. Tyler Soderstrom is back in the lineup as the designated hitter, a strategic move designed to preserve his injured hip while he works his way back into action. Zack Gelof, who started in left field the last two games, shifts to third base with Max Muncy no longer on the major-league roster.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has begun the season with some offensive spark, and tonight he will try to keep that momentum going. More importantly, he and right fielder Lawrence Butler must improve their defensive communication this evening. The A’s also need stronger performances from shortstop Jacob Wilson, who went without a hit yesterday in his first game off the injured list, and who will be looking to contribute both with his glove and at the plate.
Oakland’s offense will face Tigers right-hander Troy Melton, who has been one of Detroit’s early-season breakout performers. The 25-year-old is making his eighth appearance of the year with a 4-1 record, a 2.05 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts over 44 innings. In his most recent outing, Melton left with a no-decision after shutting out the New York Yankees for 6 1/3 innings, yielding only two hits while fanning seven. This marks Melton’s second start against the A’s this season, and he will look to continue his strong form in a ballpark that has often kept hitters from getting a read on his stuff early in the game.
The A’s will need Springs to slow down Detroit’s lineup and keep the Tigers from mounting a multi-run inning, while Oakland’s bats must find a rhythm against Melton and the Tigers’ bullpen. A win would not only end the skid but also set the stage for a deciding game tomorrow, a critical contest as Oakland aims to gain ground in a tightly contested division race.