Ross Gets The Call For Game One Against The Rays

Bartolo Colon is out and Tyson Ross is in.  Bartolo Colon, who was suspended 50 games yesterday for using performance enhancing drugs, will never throw another pitch for the Athletics in 2012 and may never throw a pitch in Major League Baseball ever again.  Colon was supposed to start today’s game against the Rays but due to his disappointing departure the A’s are sending Tyson Ross—who A’s fans thought they would never see again in 2012—to the mound in game one against Tampa.

Tyson Ross has been anything but spectacular this season.  Last year, Ross showed signs of dominance with some very good starts for the Athletics, but injury cut his success short.  Since returning from his injury he has not been the same.  Before being demoted to triple-a earlier this season, Ross compiled a horrid 2-8 record with an astronomical 6.35 ERA.  The A’s, who find themselves in the heat of a pennant race, do not certainly know which Tyson Ross will show up to the ballpark for today’s game, but their hoping for the dominating Ross that they had before he suffered his injury last year.  Maybe his demotion to triple-a will prove to be a rewarding move for the young and talented pitcher.

The Tampa Bay Rays will be sending the talented, but sometimes unpredictable, Alex Cobb to the mound.  This season, Cobb has shown signs of possessing all the tools needed to be a successful starter in the Major Leagues, but he is still working on his progression.  One sign came against the Athletics when he defeated them on August 1st.  Cobb threw seven strong innings, gave up only four hits, while surrendering a lone earned run and striking out six Oakland batters.  On the year, Alex Cobb is 7-8 with a 4.74 ERA.

DownSide: The Rays are playing extremely good baseball.  They have won six of their last seven games and possess the best team ERA in the American League.

UpSide:  The Athletics are coming off of a series in which they won two of the three games against the Minnesota Twins.  The pitching has been remarkable and the offense has been explosive.

Probable Starters

Friday, Aug. 24th, 4:10 PM

Jarrod Parker (8-7, 3.48 ERA) vs Matt Moore (10-7, 3.57 ERA)

Saturday, Aug. 25th, 10:10 AM

Brandon McCarthy (6-5, 3.16 ERA) vs Jeremy Hellickson (8-8, 3.28 ERA)