Jeffrey Springs will take the mound for the Oakland Athletics tonight in Seattle, staring down a tough Mariners lineup at T-Mobile Park as Oakland tries to rebound from a 3-2 series-opening defeat.
Oakland remains in the basement of the AL West, while Seattle sits two games back of Houston for that second spot in the division with another important matchup ahead. Springs is 10-8 on the season with a 4.28 ERA, and his last two outings haven’t gone as planned, lasting just over three and four innings respectively. The left-hander will be opposed by 27-year-old righty George Kirby, who is 8-6 with a 4.22 ERA since his first start of the season on May 22.
Springs will be tasked with handling a Mariners lineup that has been productive this season, while Kirby will face Mark Kotsay’s Athletics squad looking to manufacture runs and extend their opportunities against Seattle’s bullpen.
Broadcast information has NBC Sports California covering the Athletics, with radio options on Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast, and KWNR 95.5 The Bull.
What to watch tonight:
– Springs’ ability to command his fastball and mix in off-speed offerings after a couple of rough starts.
– Kirby’s efficiency and how well he works both sides of the plate against Oakland’s lineup.
– The game plan each team deploys to exploit the others’ matchups, especially late innings and bullpen usage.
Overall, this is a pivotal game for both clubs: Oakland hoping to snap a skid and gain ground, Seattle aiming to keep pace in a tight division race. A strong outing from Springs could set the tone for the series as the A’s look to rebound on the road.