While a long shot, Twins vs Royals also happening this weekend.
On deck: Athletics
Series: Three games at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
First pitch: Friday — 9:40 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday — 4:07 p.m.
TV/radio: All games on BSD/97.1
Probables:Friday — LHP Tarik Skubal (16-4, 2.51) vs. RHP Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.50); Saturday — LHP Brant Hurter (3-1, 3.25) vs. TBA; Sunday — TBA vs. RHP J.T. Ginn (0-0, 4.30)
Skubal, Tigers: Here’s your insane Tarik Skubal stat for the day. He’s gotten ahead of 183 hitters 0-2. Those hitters are 20-for-180 (.111) with just three extra-base hits and 102 strikeouts. He’s walked just one hitter after being up 0-2. His 5.7 pitcher WAR leads all of baseball and his ERA, strikeouts (201) and wins lead American League pitchers.
Spence, Athletics: He’s been a workhorse for the A’s. His 126 innings leads American League rookies and his 105 strikeouts are third most among rookies. He struck out 10 Rays in seven innings on Aug. 21. He features a cutter, slider, sinker (92 mph) and curveball and gets a fair amount of chase (31.5%).
Right-hander Reese Olson, out since July 21 with right shoulder strain, started his rehab assignment at Toledo Thursday.
He threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with a walk and a strikeout. He threw 39 pitches, 24 strikes.
“If he can take the stuff from the live BP and bring it into the game, we will be thrilled,” Hinch said. “Just in terms of strike-throwing and usage.”
Olson did throw all five of his pitches. His fastball and two-seamer velocity averaged 94 mph.
“He didn’t have to be perfect,” Hinch said. “It’s the first of what we hope will be just a couple of rehab starts.”
Barring any setbacks, if Olson gets to 60 pitches in his second outing, which will be early next week, he could end up making three starts before the end of the season.
Skub still has triple crown AL. ERA is locked up.
Its him and Ragans for Ks, Skub 10 ahead
Its him and Lugo or Berrios in Wins, +1 and+2 for Skub on those guys.
300m to Skub, 425 to Soto 130 to Flaherty. Sell more pizza
Series: Three games at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
