It's been quite an interesting start for the A's, who sit 11-16 and in third place in the AL West. After last year's catastrophe, many predicted this year's team to be the worst in baseball. The offense has struggled pretty heavily but the pitching, specifically the bullpen, has been solid.
The A's -37 run differential is still fourth-worst in baseball but that's in large part due to their 77 runs scored. The offense is 29th in the league, better than only the lowly White Sox, and 10 runs worse than the 28th place Nationals. The pitching staff has allowed 114 runs, placing them exactly league average and miles better than the last place Rockies, who have allowed 156.
Unfortunately for the A's, both Zack Gelof and JD Davis are on the IL, shortening the lineup. Miguel Andujar, who was red-hot in spring training, is still recovering from knee surgery with no timeline to return. They don't have a ton of talent ready and waiting to break into the majors, so they'll need to work some magic with the guys on the current roster if they want to make a push toward .500 this year.
Probable starting pitchers
- Lefty JP Sears gets the start for the Athletics today. He's 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 26.2 innings. Despite having one of the lowest strikeout rates in the league, Sears has found some success by limiting hard contact, and in turn limiting home runs. However, his BABIP against is a very low .205 and is likely due for some negative regression. He also has one of the lowest ground ball rates in the league, so we'll see how long this run of success lasts.
- The Orioles will send lefty Cole Irvin to the mound this afternoon. He's 1-1 with a 4.64 ERA and like Sears, an extremely low strikeout rate. Irvin deploys a five-pitch mix but relies heavily on his curveball and sinker, throwing them a combined 57% of the time. He'll also mix in a low 90's four-seamer, a cutter, and a show-me changeup. Irvin gets a ton of ground balls thanks to the high sinker usage, so we'll see if the A's can find a way to elevate the ball and do damage early.
Oakland A's starting lineup, April 27
- Esteury Ruiz, LF
- Tyler Nevin, RF
- Brent Rooker, DH
- Shea Langeliers, C
- Abraham Toro, 3B
- JJ Bleday, CF
- Max Schuemann, 2B
- Nick Allen, SS
- Darell Hernaiz, 3B
Baltimore Orioles starting lineup, April 27
- Gunnar Henderson, SS
- Adley Rutschman, DH
- Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
- Anthony Santander, RF
- Jordan Westburb 3B
- Cedric Mullins, CF
- James McCann, C
- Colton Cowser, LF
- Jorge Mateo, 2B
What channel is the Oakland A's game on today?
- Game time: 1:05 pm PDT
- Athletics fans can watch on NBCSCA
- Orioles fans can watch on MASN
How can I stream the Oakland A's game today?
- NBC Sports Bay Area Live
- MLB.tv (subscription required)
- Fubo TV (subscription required, free trial available)
How can I listen to the Oakland A's game today?
- The Athletics broadcast will be available on A's cast, and Bloomberg 960 AM / 103.7 HD2
- The Orioles broadcast will be available on 98 Rock FM / 97.9 HD2, WBAL News Radio AM/FM