A’s vs. Giants Game Thread

Here we are: the year’s first matchup in the historic Battle of the…Bridges? Basins? Hopefully, someone in one of the team’s marketing departments comes up with something better than that. Regardless, it’s always fun to watch the Athletics take on the San Francisco Giants.

JP Sears will be getting his first start of the year in a southpaw battle against 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Sears is coming off another 32-start, mid-4 ERA season, somewhat of a trademark for him now. That’s perfectly good for the back half of your rotation, which he can easily be for a long time, but I’d love to see him hit another gear this season and establish himself firmly as more of mid-to-front-of-the-rotation type of pitcher.

In the lineup, the A’s are going mostly with starters today. The exceptions are Max Schuemann in the leadoff spot, who’s likely to be the A’s go-to bench guy, along with top prospects Max Muncy and Nick Kurtz at the end of the order.

Meanwhile, the Giants are going the opposite direction with a starter-less lineup as they evaluate their young guys and potential bench bats.