OAKLAND
http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-chris-carpenter-jersey , Calif. — Right-hander Liam Hendriks gets another opportunity to convince the
Oakland Athletics to take “bullpenning” into the postseason when he opens a
six-game homestand Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels.The A’s will
enter the final 13 days (12 games) of the regular season with a chance to
capture the American League West or a wild-card playoff spot in the AL.Despite
coming off a disappointing 3-3 trip against Baltimore and Tampa Bay, a pair of
sub-.500 teams from the AL East, Oakland (90-60) will take the field Tuesday
just 1 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees (91-58) in the race for the first
wild-card spot in the AL.Article continues below ...The Yankees, who own the
tie-breaker over the A’s, host the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series
starting Tuesday.The Houston Astros (94-55) took a 4 1/2-game lead over the A’s
atop the AL West into their series opener at home against Seattle on Monday
night.Hendriks (0-1, 5.60) has served as Oakland’s “opener” five times this
month and has allowed runs on just one occasion. But the A’s have lost three of
the five games, including his most recent start, 7-5 at Tampa Bay on
Saturday.The 2-3 team record in Hendriks’ starts hasn’t necessarily been his
fault. He’s allowed just two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in those games,
and the two runs came the only time he was allowed to begin a second inning
Sept. 1 against Seattle.Meanwhile
Kolten Wong Jersey , Oakland’s normally reliable bullpen has been roughed up for 21 earned runs and 33 hits in 38 1/3 innings in those games, numbers that
would look a lot worse if you threw out the eighth scoreless, hitless innings at
Baltimore last Wednesday.Hendriks has faced the Angels 27 times in his career,
just once as a starter, and compiled a 1-2 record with a 3.86 ERA.Hendriks is
scheduled to be opposed by Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs (8-8, 3.78), who is
expected to be reinstated from the disabled list prior to the game. The
left-hander has been out with a groin strain.Skaggs was last seen struggling
through a poor effort at home against the A’s on Aug. 11, when he was bombed for
seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings in a 7-0 loss.He served up a pair of
home runs to Marcus Semien that day, as well as Khris Davis‘ 34th.Davis has
since added nine more to match his career-high and take the major league lead
with 43. He’s hit two in 13 career at-bats against Skaggs
Trevor Rosenthal Jersey , who has gone just 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA in eight career starts against Oakland.The Angels also expect Shohei Ohtani in the lineup
Tuesday after he turned his ankle on a slide into second base late in Sunday’s
4-3 win over Seattle.The same won’t be true for David Fletcher, who suffered a
serious hamstring injury in the game and likely will be shut down for the rest
of the season. Michael Kopech might be nervous to check the weather forecast
Wednesday night.The 22-year-old’s reluctance would be understandable. His first
two starts on Chicago’s South Side have been interrupted because of rain — after
two innings against the Minnesota Twins and after three against the Boston Red
Sox.“I’m going to say a little prayer to Mother Nature and see if we can figure
things out,” Kopech joked after his last start.Article continues below
...Chicago (56-83) will hope for dry skies in the rubber match of a three-game
series against Detroit (56-83). The finale’s winner will move into sole
possession of third place in the American League Central.Kopech (1-0, 0.82 ERA)
is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season for the White Sox. He has
allowed one run in his first 11 innings while walking one and striking out
nine.This marks Kopech’s second career start against Detroit. He limited the
Tigers to one run on seven hits in six innings when he faced them Aug. 26 in
Detroit. The performance yielded his first big-league victory.The Tigers will
counter with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (6-6, 4.22 ERA), who is slated to
make his 21st start of the year. The 32-year-old has thrown four quality starts
in his last six outings, going 2-3 with a 3.79 ERA during that time.In 12 career
starts against the White Sox, Zimmermann is 5-4 with a 6.26 ERA. He has given up
45 earned runs in 64 2/3 innings, allowing 12 walks and striking out 43. That
includes 20 earned runs allowed in 20 1/3 innings this year.Zimmermann took a
no-hitter through five innings against the New York Yankees in his most recent
performance
http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-jedd-gyorko-jersey , but he surrendered three home runs in the sixth.“It’s a tough situation to be
in,” Zimmermann said to the Detroit News after a recent start. “My mentality my
whole career has been to fill up the zone and get guys out in three pitches or
less.“But it seems like on a lot of guys, I get 0-2 and 1-2, and I tell myself,
‘All right, let’s get this over with and make a quality pitch here.’ But there
will be a broken bat and or a jam shot and, boom — two bloops and a blast.”The
White Sox have tagged Zimmermann for 30 hits in his 20 1/3 innings.“It’s not
like I’ve pitched horribly,” Zimmermann said to the Detroit News. “I am just
around the zone too much and they swing at everything.”Outfielder Daniel Palka,
who has homered in each of his past two contests
Carlos Martinez Jersey , is one of the White Sox’ most confident hitters. The slugger has 21 home runs in his rookie campaign.Chicago has won eight of 12
and 14 of 21.“I think we’re all pulling in the same direction, and it’s a lot of
fun to be a part of right now,” Kopech said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been a
winning team, and hopefully it stays that way for a long time.”
