The Oakland Athletics open up a four game series with the Los Angeles Angels Friday evening looking to get some kind of positive momentum after a lost four-game series in Texas last weekend. The A’s are twelve games out of first place and struggling to find any positives at this point. A strong series against the Angels doesn’t get them in the thick of the AL West race, but it could at least give them some confidence coming out of the All Star break.
Friday night’s matchup features Brandon McCarthy and former A’s ace Dan Haren. McCarthy is only 1-5 but he has been a bit of a tough-luck loser at times. He struggled in his last game against Texas but has otherwise been solid. Haren will be looking for his fifth straight win as he has been dominant much of this season. Over his last four starts, all wins, he has given up five runs over 31 innings.
Oakland Athletics
1. Jemile Weeks 2B
2. Coco Crisp CF
3. Josh Willingham LF
4. Hideki Matsui DH
5. Scott Sizemore 3B
6. David DeJesus RF
7. Conor Jackson 1B
8. Kurt Suzuki C
9. Cliff Pennington SS
Los Angeles Angeles
1. Erick Aybar SS
2. Torii Hunter RF
3. Bobby Abreu DH
4. Vernon Wells LF
5. Howard Kendrick 2B
6. Alberto Callaspo 3B
7. Mark Trumbo 1B
8. Jeff Mathis C
9. Mike Trout CF