Oakland A’s (53-37) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (53-35)
Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.94 ERA) takes the mound tonight as the Pirates look to snap a three game losing streak against the AL West leading Oakland A’s. Oakland is 10-0 all-time vs the Pirates.
The pitching matchup tonight is Cole vs Dan Straily (5-2, 4.52 ERA). Last night 40 year old Bartolo Colon out-dueled All-Star Jeff Locke for a 2-1 A’s win.
The Pirates have lost five of seven games.
Second baseman Neil Walker will miss his third straight game due to discomfort in his right side. Jordy Mercer will start at second base. Mercer has appeared in 12 games at second base this season.
Andrew McCutchen enters tonight’s game on a 10 game hitting streak. McCutchen is batting .421 during the streak.
Tonight’s Pirates Lineup
1. Starling Marte (.288-9HR-27RBI), LF
2. Jose Tabata (.304-2HR-9RBI), RF
3. Andrew McCutchen (.303-9HR-46RBI), CF
4. Pedro Alvarez (.249-22HR-57RBI), 3B
5. Russell Martin (.245-8HR-32RBI), C
6. Garrett Jones (.257-8HR-35RBI), 1B
7. Jordy Mercer (.266-4HR-11RBI, 2B
8. Clint Barmes (.207-2HR-10RBI), SS
9. Gerrit Cole, P