The Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays will take the field on Sunday for an American League clash at Tropicana Field. First pitch from St. Petersburg, FL, is at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Rays are large spread favorites (-260 ML) and the game total is set at 7.5 runs.
Oakland (2-5 SU and 3-4 RL) lost two of three to the Los Angeles Angels in its season-opening set and dropped two of three games to Cleveland in its most recent series. James Kaprielian (0-0 with a 9.00 ERA) will start for the A's on Sunday.
Tampa Bay (7-0 SU and 7-0 RL) swept Detroit and Washington in its first two series. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen (1-0 with a 0.00 ERA) in the series finale.
Oakland isn't going to be an exceptional team this year, but that doesn't mean it can't be competitive. With a full season ahead, anything is possible. Could A's fans be in for a pleasant surprise?
The A's were behind the eight-ball early on Friday, as the Rays scored six runs in the second inning and two more in the third. Facing a large deficit on the road against the league's only undefeated team, Oakland was in a hole it couldn't climb out of. Ken Waldichuk gave up eight runs on eight hits, including four homers, in three innings of work.
RAMOOOOOOOON pic.twitter.com/ZpfsehQtWc
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 4, 2023
Oakland scores 3.86 runs per game (23rd) with a .221 batting average (27th) and a .669 OPS (25th). It's hit eight home runs (17th) and stolen six bases (11th) this season. The Athletics' pitching staff has compiled a 6.33 ERA (29th) and 1.61 WHIP (27th) with zero quality starts.
The A's lineup leaves a lot to be desired. Offseason addition Jesús Aguilar could surprise with a bounce-back season, but that's likely asking too much of the 32-year-old. Ramón Laureano is a potential trade candidate down the line, but he's also coming off a poor 2022 season. Aledmys Díaz and Jace Peterson are two veteran players who could exceed expectations.
Sunday's starter Kaprielian allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings in his first start of the season. He was 5-9 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 26 starts la st season. The former first-round pick of the New York Yankees, who had off-season shoulder surgery, figures to be a key cog in Oakland's starting rotation this year.