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Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels: Who Wins in 2016?

By Melson Varsovia

Mar 3, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Chris Coghlan (3) turns the double play while avoiding Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) in the second inning during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics left fielder Chris Coghlan (3) turns the double play while avoiding Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) in the second inning during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Athletics
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Left Field: Mark Canha/Khris Davis vs. Daniel Nava/Craig Gentry

Mark Canha and Khris Davis are solid batters with 20-30 home run potential. Davis was brought in especially to destroy right handed pitching and provide a middle of the order bat for the A’s. Canha proved himself last year to be a big-league hitter, and he had his best month in August, hitting .309 that month. He continued to hit throughout the rest of the year, grabbing 50 bases total in each month and even stealing a few bases in September.

Craig Gentry is well known among Athletics fans, but there was a reason he was let go by the A’s. In 2015, he had a terrible performance, limited to 26 games before spending the rest of the year at Triple-A Nashville. He might not get back to his 2012 year, when he hit .304 in 122 games with the Texas Rangers.

Meanwhile, Daniel Nava signed a one-year deal with the Angels in 2015, laden with incentives. This was a necessary development as he was plain awful with two teams last year, being designated for assignment by the Red Sox in July before being claimed by the Rays. Like Gentry, an injury (to his thumb) hampered his total production. However, he did have a good year in 2013, winning a World Series ring and platooning with Jonny Gomes while hitting nicely: a .303/.385/.445 line with 77 runs scored.

Nevertheless, the A’s win this matchup outright, with two healthy left fielders who can decimate opposing righties. That’s not to say anything about the depth the A’s have in this position (read: Coco Crisp, Chris Coghlan, Sam Fuld).

Advantage: A’s

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Center Field: Billy Burns vs. Mike Trout

Next slide, please.

Advantage: Angels

Next: A's vs. Angels: Right Field