The Oakland Athletics travel to Arlington to face the Texas Rangers Monday night looking to climb at least two games over .500 for the first time this season. The A’s will send out Trevor Cahill to face C.J. Wilson in a battle of aces at 5:00pm pacific on CSN California.
The Rangers head into this game having recently placed outfielder Nelson Cruz on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quad. Cruz had been struggling with a .219 batting average but was tied for the team lead with seven home runs. The Rangers continue to move Michael Young and Mitch Moreland around the field to make up for Cruz’s absence.
The A’s go back to their non-Kouzmanoff lineup and have bumped Andy LaRoche up to sixth in the batting order. LaRoche had spent most of the season hitting in the eighth spot. While he hasn’t lit things up he has done a good job hitting the ball, while giving them solid defense. It appears as though the A’s really want him to secure third base over Kouzmanoff, but he hasn’t quite secured the job.
Oakland Athletics
1. Coco Crisp CF
2. Daric Barton 1B
3. Conor Jackson RF
4. Josh Willingham LF
5. Kurt Suzuki DH
6. Andy LaRoche 3B
7. Mark Ellis 2B
8. Landon Powell C
9. Cliff Pennington SS
Texas Rangers
1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Michael Young 1B
4. Mike Napoli DH
5. David Murphy LF
6. Yorvit Torrealba C
7. Mitch Moreland RF
8. Chris Davis 3B
9. Julio Borbon CF