Christine: Jacob deGrom just tossed seven shutout innings against us, and the A’s are staring down a fourth consecutive loss. But tomorrow night in Arlington, we get one more shot to salvage this series.
Jason: It is a tough pill to swallow after that 8-1 drubbing on Monday. The bullpen was nonexistent, and our offense went completely silent against one of the best arms in baseball right now.
Christine: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, the daily home for Oakland Athletics coverage. I’m Christine, and I’m joined by Jason. Today, we are looking ahead to Game Three of this Texas series. We’ll break down the pitching matchup, discuss the heavy injury list keeping key guys out, and finally address whether Lawrence Butler can keep his hot streak alive.
Jason: Right. And let’s be clear about the stakes here. The Rangers are sitting second in the AL West at 68-70. We’re fourth at 53-85. This isn’t just about pride; it’s about closing out the season with some momentum before the offseason starts.
Christine: Exactly. So, what are we talking about today? First, we’ll look at the probable pitchers for tonight’s tilt. Second, we’ll dive into the offensive struggles and the massive holes in the lineup due to injuries. And third, we’ll give you our keys to victory and a bold prediction for the final game.
Jason: Sounds like a plan. Let’s get into it.
Christine: Alright, Segment One: The Pitching Matchup. It feels like every time we play Texas, they throw their ace at us when we’re most vulnerable. Who is on the mound for the Rangers tonight?
Jason: Well, if history repeats itself, it’s likely another starter from their top tier. DeGrom just proved he’s still elite. He allowed only one hit in seven innings yesterday, striking out eight. That is dominant stuff.
Christine: Eight strikeouts in seven shutout frames. It’s impressive, but it’s also terrifying for our lineup. Do we have anyone on our side who can counter him? Looking at our rotation options...
Jason: We have Jeffrey Springs, Gage Jump, Kade Morris, J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez, and Hogan Harris. None of them have faced deGrom yet, which means we don’t know how they handle that velocity. But tactically, the key here is plate discipline.
Christine: Plate discipline. You mean not chasing the breaking balls away from the zone?
Jason: Precisely. DeGrom doesn’t need to throw hard all the time. He uses his slider and changeup to induce weak contact or swings and misses. If our hitters bite on those off-speed pitches early in the count, we’re going to see another 8-1 type of night.
Christine: That sounds like a nightmare scenario. What about our starter? Is there a name being thrown around yet for Oakland?
Jason: The brief doesn’t confirm the probable starter yet, but given the rest days, it could be someone like Kade Morris or even a long-relief stint if they want to save arms for the playoffs push—though at 53-85, that’s a stretch. We’ll have to wait for the official confirmation.
Christine: Fair point. Until then, we’re left wondering if our starters can even make it through five innings against this Texas lineup. It’s a tall order.
Jason: And remember, the Rangers’ defense is solid. Even if you make contact, you’re not necessarily safe. It’s a tough environment to play in.
Christine: So, Segment One takeaway: respect the opposition, especially their pitching depth. Now, let’s talk about why we lost so badly yesterday and who is actually playing for us tonight.
Jason: This brings us to Segment Two: Key Hitters and the Injury Woes. Yesterday was a disaster for our offense. No runs until... well, never really. What happened?
Christine: It felt like everyone was pressing. When you’re down two games to none in a series, you try to do too much. But looking at the roster, we’re missing some serious firepower. Shea Langeliers is on the 10-Day IL. Nick Kurtz is on the 60-Day IL. Josh Jung is out too.
Jason: That’s a huge blow to our defensive stability behind the plate, but offensively, losing Kurtz and Langeliers means we lose two guys who can drive in runs. Plus, Denzel Clarke and Robert Garcia are on the 60-Day IL. Carter Baumler is out. Brooks Kriske is out. Michael Helman is out. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer is out. Kyle Higashioka is out. It’s an epidemic.
Christine: Wow, just listing those names is exhausting. Who is left to carry the load? We have Zack Gelof at third, Max Muncy also at third, Darell Hernaiz at shortstop, Alika Williams at short, Jeff McNeil at second, Lawrence Butler in right, Henry Bolte in center, Carlos Cortes in right...
Jason: That’s a lot of versatility, but it’s also a lack of established power. Gelof and Muncy are the primary threats. Muncy has always been good at getting on base, but his launch angle needs to be perfect against deGrom’s command. If he pops up fly balls, it’s over.
Christine: What about Lawrence Butler? We talked about him yesterday. Remember, we predicted he’d hit a solo homer in the fourth inning against Baltimore.
Jason: I remember. And while he didn’t hit it in the fourth, he had a great series against the Orioles overall. He’s been one of the few bright spots for this team. His swing path is aggressive, which works well if you can catch the ball in the air.
Christine: He’s definitely a guy to watch. But what about the bullpen? After that 8-1 loss, can we trust Elvis Alvarado, Brady Basso, Scott Blewett, Luis Medina, Jack Perkins, Chris Roycroft, or Jose Suarez?
Jason: Honestly? It’s a question mark. Blewett has experience, but Alvarado and Basso are young arms. If the starter goes deep, maybe they survive. But if the starter gets shelled like yesterday, these relievers will be exposed quickly.
Christine: So, no safety net. If the starting pitcher fails, the bullpen is likely to follow. That puts everything on the first five innings. It’s high pressure for guys who haven’t had much success this year.
Jason: High pressure, yes. But also, low expectations. Sometimes that helps players relax. Maybe without the weight of 'winning the series' on their shoulders, they can just pitch their natural game.
Christine: That’s a nice way to put it. 'Pitch your natural game.' I like that. Let’s move to Segment Three: Keys to Victory and Our Bold Prediction.
Jason: Okay, Keys to Victory. Number one: Contact quality. Against deGrom, you don’t get many mistakes. You have to square it up. Line drives. Hard ground balls. Nothing weak.
Christine: Number two?
Jason: Baserunning aggression. The Rangers have a strong arm in the outfield. If you get on base, you have to take extra bases. Steal a base, take an extra base on a single. Make them work harder.
Christine: I love that. Force the defense to make plays. Okay, Jason, what’s your bold prediction for Game Three?
Jason: I’m going to say Lawrence Butler hits a home run again. Not in the fourth this time, but in the fifth. He’s finding his rhythm, and deGrom might get a little tired as he goes deeper into the game.
Christine: Another Butler homer? You’re sticking with that narrative. Okay, my bold prediction: The Athletics win this game. 4-3. I think the Rangers’ bullpen, which was shaky yesterday despite deGrom’s brilliance, will falter in the late innings.
Jason: You’re betting on the Rangers’ bullpen collapsing? That’s a risky bet, Christine.
Christine: Maybe! But sometimes teams hit a wall. At 53-85, we have nothing to lose. Let’s see if we can shock the world.
Jason: We’ll see. Tune in tomorrow night to find out if the A’s can pull off the upset against deGrom and the Rangers.
Christine: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow A’s fan!
Jason: Go Birds.
Christine: See you next time.