IGT 08/20 -- Mets at A's

[Guest d'Kong76]

NY Mets at Oakland
When: 3:35 PM ET, Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
SportsDirect Inc.

The Oakland Athletics are banking on their overhauled pitching staff to propel them deep into the postseason and will be hoping for another solid start from Jeff Samardzija on Wednesday afternoon. The Athletics snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday and will try to complete a sweep of their two-game interleague series versus the visiting New York Mets. The Athletics are one-half game behind Los Angeles in the AL West with a showdown looming this weekend versus the Angels.

Getting off the road turned things around for Oakland, which improved to a major league-best 41-21 at home. The Mets did put an end to one dubious streak in Tuesday's series opener, halting their five-game funk in which they were limited to four or fewer hits. Zack Wheeler is 5-0 over his last nine starts and has ample motivation to avenge a miserable outing against Oakland on June 25, when he was shelled for six runs in a season-low two innings.

TV:
3:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP:
Mets RH Zack Wheeler (8-8, 3.49 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jeff Samardzija (5-9, 2.96)

Wheeler is coming off another strong performance, matching his season high with 10 strikeouts and allowing two runs over 6 2/3 innings to beat the Chicago Cubs on Friday. It marked the ninth consecutive quality start since the debacle against the Athletics for Wheeler, who has yielded more than two runs once in that span. Wheeler is 4-4 both at home and away but his road ERA (3.24) is more than a half-run lower than at home (3.88).

Samardzija had a five-start unbeaten string halted last time out when he was touched for four runs (three earned) and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings at Kansas City. He has pitched at least six innings in each of his eight starts since he was acquired from the Cubs and has turned in a quality start in all five of his outings in Oakland. Daniel Murphy is in a 3-for-24 rut over his past six games but is 3-for-6 with a homer against Samardzija.

WALK-OFFS:
1. Athletics CF Coco Crisp is batting .350 in 12 career games against New York.
2. Mets RF Curtis Granderson is 3-for-35 with no extra-base hits in his last nine games.
3. Tuesday's win clinched a fifth consecutive winning season at home for Oakland.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Crisp, DH
Jaso, C
Vogt, 1B
Moss, LF
Reddick, RF
Callaspo, 3B
Fuld, CF
Parrino, SS
Sogard, 2B

[ashie62]

The lineup doesn't look like much but they do win, a lot.

Kase, get an iGT win streak going..

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson-DH
Murphy-4
Wright-5
Duda-3
d'Arnaud-2
den Dekker-8
Flores-6
Nieuwenhuis-9
Young, Jr.-7

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I kind of like that lineup.

8-2 win. WRITE IT DOWN

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I kind of like that lineup. 8-2 win. WRITE IT DOWN

updated.

Granderson-9
Murphy-4
Wright-5
Duda-3
d'Arnaud-2
den Dekker-8
Campbell-DH
Flores-6
Young, Jr.-7

Wheeler-1

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

wtf happened to Niuewy? Hurt?

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: wtf happened to Niuewy? Hurt?

saw rumors of a stiff neck.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well that changes things.

7-2. WRITE IT DOWN

[TransMonk]

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ceetar wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: wtf happened to Niuewy? Hurt? saw rumors of a stiff neck.

I read that he injured his neck sleeping on the plane.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

TransMonk wrote:

whizzzzz Bullet of cool!

[Zvon]

DOH

[Frayed Knot]

Oakland's lineup today features 6 lefties and 3 switchies. Wheeler won't see a RHB all day.

[Zvon]

Frayed Knot wrote: Oakland's lineup today features 6 lefties and 3 switchies. Wheeler won't see a RHB all day.

Mex insures us we will see Edgin, and we probably will, but I'd much rather see a complete game shutout win. Tall order though, with Wheeler on the mound. Lets see 7 solid Zack! 8 gets you mucho brewiski.

[Frayed Knot]

2 innings/24 pitches so far for ZW
Certainly a better pace than his usual.

[Zvon]

Wow. That was not on my list of possibilities. Campbell sends one into orbit.

1-0 Mets

[Guest themetfairy]

Soup KaBoom!

[Edgy MD]

Lunchbucket was clearly expecting two of those from Nieuwenhuis.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wait... what? I had no idea a game was going on. I guess I assumed it was another of those 10 p.m. starts.

[Edgy MD]

How far off the plate was that pitch Murphy hit? Gameday suggests it was at least six inches.

[Zvon]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Wait... what? I had no idea a game was going on. I guess I assumed it was another of those 10 p.m. starts.

And an off day tomorrow, right?

TC should have waited, given Murph today and the off day rest. He could have used two in a row.

Danny lines a nice single there. Come on Davey. Earn your keep.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Guest

[Guest d'Kong76]

Bases loaded for ... DUDA!!

[Edgy MD]

Gameday also suggests that Umpie is squeezing the heck out of Samarakdsaf;ijhia.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: How far off the plate was that pitch Murphy hit? Gameday suggests it was at least six inches.

It was outside and he flicked it. That far? Maybe.

[Guest d'Kong76]

DUDABoom!!!!!!!!!!

[Zvon]

DOOBOO!

[Gwreck]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well that changes things. 7-2. WRITE IT DOWN

Hmmm. Looking good so far.

[Frayed Knot]

Lucas says: High slider? ... bye slider.

[Edgy MD]

Gwreck wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well that changes things. 7-2. WRITE IT DOWN Hmmm. Looking good so far.

MLB may be calling you and inquiring as to where you got this hot tip you gave me.