The Oakland Athletics and Washington Nationals will close out a three-game interleague series on Thursday evening in the nation's capital. This will be the rubber game after Washington evened the series with a 5-1 victory on Wednesday to cash in as a -106 favorite. Oakland is in last place in the AL West at 49-82. while the Nationals are even worse at 44-86.
These teams last met back in June of 2017, with the Nationals taking two of three in Oakland.
While the Athletics have looked at least slightly better lately, they couldn't keep it going long as the offense was shut down on Wednesday in a loss to the Nationals. Oakland scored first on Dermis Garcia's homer in the second, yet that was it for an offense that managed only five hits.
Starter James Kaprielian took the loss, allowing five runs (just two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three across 5.2 innings. Garcia also walked as the only member of the Athletics to reach base twice, while Seth Brown recorded a double.
Oakland is down a big amount on the money line for the season while going 64-66 on the run line. Overs are 54-68-8 for the Athletics, with four of their last five games going under the betting total.
It's been a miserable season for the Oakland offense with an average of 3.41 runs per game on a .624 OPS . The pitching staff has only been marginally better, posting a 4.29 combined ERA including a mark of 4.07 out of the bullpen.
Sean Murphy has established himself as one of baseball's better catchers at 4.5 WAR, posting a .789 OPS with 17 homers and 58 driven in. Garcia has impressed in 12 games, batting .333/.412/.600 with two homers and seven driven in.
Ken Waldichuk is set to make his MLB debut after going 2-4 with a 3.42 ERA and 91 strikeouts across 66.1 innings at the AAA level this year. The 24-year-old is considered one of baseball's top 35 prospects and was a main return piece in the deal with the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Frankie Montas.
Outfielders Ramon Laureano (strained oblique) and Skye Bolt (patellar subluxation) are out. The rotation is down Brent Honeywell Jr. (stress reaction in elbow), Paul Blackburn (torn finger tendon) and Daulton Jeffries (thoracic outlet syndrome). Relieve rs Deolis Garcia (Tommy John surgery), Zach Jackson (shoulder inflammation) and Dany Jimenez (strained shoulder) are out.