Athletics at Rays (Game 2)
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: Approximately 5:40 p.m. ET (or 40 minutes after Game 1), NBCSN California (Oakland), FSN Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (5-3, 3.81 ERA) vs. Rays RH Matt Andriese (5-1, 3.45)
Manaea goes after his fourth straight quality start and his fifth consecutive victory, allowing six runs (five earned) over 25 innings in his last four outings after posting a 5.52 ERA in the first six of 2017. The 25-year-old Indiana native is just 2-3 with a 4.44 ERA in five road starts while posting a 3-0 record with a 3.21 mark at home. Manaea did not factor in the decision despite permitting five hits over eight scoreless innings against the Rays last year.
Andriese skipped a start due to a groin injury suffered in Texas and is expected back on the hill Saturday to try and extend his winning streak to five games. The 27-year-old Californian permitted six hits in eight scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels in his last meeting with an American League West squad on May 25. Yonder Alonso is 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts against Andriese, who is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in three games (one start) versus Oakland.
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.