Athletics at Rays (Game 1)
Mallex Smith will get plenty of playing time in center field for the Tampa Bay Rays after the injury to two-time Gold Glove winner Kevin Kiermaier, and showed how capable he can be in his first game back from the minors. Smith hopes to follow up a big performance as the Rays look to extend a three-game winning streak when they host the Oakland Athletics in a rare single-admission doubleheader Saturday.
Smith went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run homer, three runs scored and three stolen bases Friday in place of Kiermaier, who is out 6-8 weeks with a hip fracture, as Tampa Bay went deep five times en route to a 13-4 victory. Oakland lost its ninth game in the last 13 and dropped to 8-21 on the road overall after permitting double-digit runs for the eighth time this season. Infielder Ryon Healy is 1-for-10 in the last three outings after belting four homers and knocking in nine over a three-game span for the Athletics. It will be only the second scheduled doubleheader in two decades in the majors (the Athletics hosted the Los Angeles Angels in the last in 2011) and the second in Tropicana Field history.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Sonny Gray (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. Rays RH Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.09)
Gray posted his fourth quality start in seven 2017 outings last time out on Sunday when he yielded three runs and four hits over seven innings in a no-decision against Washington. The 27-year-old Vanderbilt product has completed at least six innings in five of his seven starts and gave up just two homers since surrendering three in his season debut. Tim Beckham is 2-for-2 with a homer versus Gray, who is 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in seven games against the Rays.
Ramirez struggled in his last two starts while giving up eight runs on 13 hits over seven total innings to post a loss and a no-decision. The 27-year-old from Nicaragua, who surrendered a homer in each of the last two games, is 0-7 with a 5.04 ERA in 13 games (eight starts) versus Oakland in his career. Yonder Alonso is 4-for-6 against Ramirez, who is 3-0 with a 2.86 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) at home in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland OF Jaycob Brugman went 0-for-4 in his major-league debut Friday after being recalled and struggling OF Mark Canha (.191) was sent to Triple-A Nashville.
2. The Rays placed Kiermaier and INF Rickie Weeks Jr. (shoulder) on the disabled list and acquired INF Taylor Featherston from Philadelphia for cash considerations.
3. Athletics LHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder) is expected to be activated for the doubleheader Saturday after missing the last six weeks.