The Guardians rolled into West Sacramento and immediately reminded everyone that the Athletics' first-place perch in the AL West is built on softer ground than the standings suggest. Friday's 8-5, Saturday's 14-6 — Cleveland is hitting everything that doesn't move and a few things that do.
Saturday was the kind of game that ages a pitching staff. Jose Ramirez swiped his 300th career bag and dropped the go-ahead two-run double in the fifth, Kyle Manzardo unloaded a pinch-hit three-run shot in the eighth, and rookie Travis Bazzana finally got the monkey off his back with his first big-league hit after starting his career 0-for-12. The only thing keeping the A's in it for a few innings was Shea Langeliers, who took the Cleveland starter deep twice.
Langeliers won't be there to repeat the trick today — he and his wife welcomed their first child Sunday morning, so Austin Wynns gets the start behind the plate. That's a tough card to pull on getaway day when you're trying to avoid a sweep, especially with the lineup already navigating Max Muncy's hand fracture and Denzel Clarke still in a walking boot.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILGabriel Arias SS — no
- 15-Day-ILAndrew Walters RP — Walters (lat) was returned from his rehab assignment due to a viral illness, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILShawn Armstrong RP — Armstrong (groin) threw a bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (foot) has begun a running and hitting progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy 3B — Muncy (hand) has yet to resume baseball activities, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) was given a cortisone injection in his left hip May 1, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
On the mound, this is a brutal draw for the home team. Parker Messick walked into May with a 1.73 ERA and a 38-to-10 strikeout-to-walk line through six starts, the kind of run that has ESPN writers comparing him to Paul Skenes-level openings. Aaron Civale draws the assignment for the A's against the organization that drafted him and gave him his first five big-league seasons — extra motivation, but also a 6.75 career ERA against this Cleveland lineup in four prior tries.
The market sees it the same way the eye test does: Cleveland is a -130 road favorite, and the runline juice tells you sharps think the Guardians win this comfortably or not at all. The total sits at nine after two straight games well over it. If Messick is Messick, that number's a stretch. If he isn't, the A's might finally get the bats going on a Sunday they really, really need.