The Oakland Athletics look to split their two-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday without their most explosive player. Jemile Weeks fouled a pitch off his right foot on Tuesday and is still feeling a bit sore. However, he did state he would be available off the bench if needed. Eric Sogard will get the start at second base in place of Weeks. This is the first game Weeks will have missed since he was called up in early June.
The A’s will send out Brandon McCarthy to face recently recalled Duane Below who is making his major league debut. Below underwent Tommy John surgery in 2009 shortly after his promotion to Double-A and has finally worked his way back. In 18 starts at Triple-A Toledo, Below was 9-4 with a 3.13 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 115 innings. The A’s will look to figure out a way to get some offense going against the new starter.
Oakland Athletics
1. Coco Crisp CF
2. Cliff Pennington SS
3. Josh Willingham LF
4. Hideki Matsui DH
5. Conor Jackson 3B
6. Kurt Suzuki C
7. David DeJesus RF
8. Landon Powell 1B
9. Eric Sogard 2B
Detroit Tigers
1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Magglio Ordonez RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Carlos Guillen 2B
7. Alex Avila C
8. Don Kelly 3B
9. Ramon Santiago SS