Athletics Head To Cleveland for a 4-Game Set
By Kevin Mendez
The Oakland Athletics will be in Cleveland, Ohio this week for a 4-game set against the Tribe. Just over a week ago, the A’s swept the Indians at home in a 3-game series while managing to shut them out in the last game. The Athletics offense showed plenty of life in that series as the they managed to score 21 runs. Currently, the A’s are playing tremendously sound baseball, as they have won 8 of their last ten games. Once again, the Athletics hold one of the two A.L. Wild Card spots and are 5.5 games back from the first place Texas Rangers. The A’s will try and gain ground on the Rangers this week as they try to continue their recent success against the Cleveland Indians.
Making the start in the first game of the series for the Athletics will be left handed starting pitcher Brett Anderson. Anderson, who had his 2011 season cut short due to Tommy John surgery, made his 2012 season debut with the A’s in his last start on August 21st. He completely dominated a struggling Minnesota Twins lineup. Over seven magnificent innings of work, he only allowed one earned run and four hits while striking out six. The Athletics went on to win that game allowing Brett Anderson to earn his first win since 2011. He will be going into Monday’s game with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 1.29.
The Indians will be sending Roberto Hernandez to the hill for the first game of the series. Roberto Hernandez, who used to be known as Francisco Carmona before getting caught for using a false identity, has not been too good since returning to his role in the Indians starting rotation. He has started for Cleveland in two games thus far and is yet to win a single game. In his 2012 season debut on August 15th, Hernandez pitched six innings while giving up five earned runs and surrendering ten base hits. In his second start, Hernandez pitched six innings again while giving up four earned runs and this time only allowing three base hits. Roberto Hernandez is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA on the year.
DownSide: Despite the recent success, the Athletics still rank in the bottom half of the American League in batting average and runs scored in the month of August.
UpSide: The Indians are one of the few teams that rank below the A’s in the categories I listed above. They are also among the worst in the A.L. with a 5-19 record in the month of August.
Probable Starters
Tuesday, Aug. 28th, 4:05 PM
Tommy Milone (10-9, 3.87 ERA) vs Zach McAllister (5-4, 3.50 ERA)
Wednesday, Aug. 29th, 4:05 PM
(To Be Announced) vs Corey Kluber (0-2, 5.32 ERA)
Thursday, Aug. 30th, 9:05 AM
(To Be Announced) vs Justin Masterson (10-11, 4.60 ERA)