Game Thread #43: A’s at Rangers

Opening the final Texas series of the season

The Oakland A’s are sitting pretty, with a 6.5-game lead in the AL West. Now they travel to Arlington to face the last-place Texas Rangers, for four games in three days.

They get going Friday, behind starter Mike Fiers. The right-hander has been his usually consistent, effective self, chewing up innings and keeping the team in position to win. He’s faced Texas twice this year and finished six frames both times, with a total of four earned runs and a pair of wins.

Meanwhile, the Rangers will go with a bullpen opener. His name is Luis Garcia, not to be confused with the Astros pitched who started against Oakland on Wednesday. Texas’ Garcia has been in the majors since 2013, mostly with the Phillies until last summer with the Angels. He’ll be followed by Jordan Lyles, who hasn’t yet appeared against the A’s this season.

We’ll also see an MLB debut tonight, in Rangers catcher Sam Huff. The 22-year-old cracked the Top 100 prospect lists of both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline last winter, and this will be his first experience above High-A ball. Oakland will answer back on Saturday with the debut of pitcher Daulton Jefferies, but for now this is Huff’s night.

The A’s are still missing Matt Chapman (hip) and Stephen Piscotty (wrist), though Marcus Semien (side) has been back for a couple games. The Rangers are without Shin-Soo Choo (hand), among others. For more info, and a full list of Texas’ current roster, check out our full series preview.

First pitch is 5:05 p.m., with the following options to watch or listen:

• TV: NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM
• Online video stream: fuboTV
• Online audio stream: iHeartRadio

A’s lineup (away)

1. 2B Tommy La Stella (L)
2. SS Marcus Semien (R)
3. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
5. RF Mark Canha (R)
6. LF Robbie Grossman (S)
7. DH Khris Davis (R)
8. 3B Vimael Machin (L)
9. C Sean Murphy (R)

• Mike Fiers, RHP

Davis gets another crack against the team he used to own.

Rangers lineup (home)

1. CF Leody Taveras (S)
2. 3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R)
3. LF Nick Solak (R)
4. RF Joey Gallo (L)
5. SS Elvis Andrus (R)
6. 2B Rougned Odor (L)
7. 1B Ronald Guzman (L)
8. C Sam Huff (R)
9. DH Anderson Tejeda (S)

• Luis Garcia, RHP

No Shin-Soo Choo, and both Todd Frazier and Robinson Chirinos were traded at the deadline.

Let’s Go Oakland!