The Oakland Athletics Struggle Against the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Oakland Athletics continue to struggle this season, falling just 43-57 and barely out of playoff contention. Coming off a victory on Monday against the Angels, they face an uphill battle tonight at Chase Field.
Manager Mark Kotsay is under pressure as the team battles its worst run differential in major league baseball, at minus-111. Their only hope lies in rookie pitchers like Gage Jump, who has shown promise but struggled recently.
The Athletics' pitching staff currently owns a 5.29 ERA which ranks poorly among MLB teams, with only the Colorado Rockies being worse.Rookie Perkins Takes Center Stage
Jack Perkins, once a converted reliever, gets the start tonight for the Athletics as he embarks on his seventh pitching appearance of the season. His struggles so far have seen him take losses in five straight trips to the mound and against Arizona last year.
Tuesday night's opponent is Diamondbacks rookie pitcher Kohl Drake, who will make his debut at the major league level despite a rocky minor-league record with a 6.92 ERA across 66.1 innings.Athletics' Recent Record
The Athletics have lost back-to-back games and struggled to win against left-handed pitchers this season, going just 12-22 in such matchups according to SportsLine's modeling. Additionally, Arizona is only a half-game out of the final NL wild card spot, and the model projects them at a 22% chance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Athletics currently underperforming?
Manager Mark Kotsay faces criticism as the team's poor run differential and pitching staff struggles have left fans disappointed. Recent results show their best player Nick Kurtz has not been enough to turn it around.
Who will start for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday?
Kohl Drake, a young prospect with a 6.92 ERA in Triple-A, takes his debut into the majors against the Athletics, as the club looks to build towards its trade deadline.