I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it explicitly before, but I am an Oakland A’s fan.
I know, I know. Yes, I know the other one.
This has not been an easy season to be an A’s fan. Frankly, what’s happening on the field is so dismal, it’s become far more interesting as an A’s fan to watch what’s happening with the City of Oakland, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland, where the team won their last game 23-2.
On the field, of course, they’re 26-54. Worst record in baseball.
Which is why it’s so easy to recommend the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays pitchers who get the A’s as one half of their two-start week coming up. Justin Verlander, Alek Manoah, Luis Garcia, and Yusei Kikuchi are all pitchers you wouldn’t bench this week even if I’d recommended it, but rest assured: they feature quite favorably here.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
The bold pitchers below are the most extreme version of each section. The best of the Top Shelf, the safest of the Well, the worst of the Bar Mat.
The Top Shelf
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander, HOU | KC(MO) | @OAK(SA) |
| Alek Manoah, TOR | @OAK(MO) | @SEA(SA) |
| Carlos Rodon, SF | @ARI(MO) | @SD(SA) |
| Luis Garcia, HOU | KC(TU) | @OAK(SU) |
| Michael Kopech, CHW | MIN(TU) | DET(SU) |
| Eric Lauer, MIL | CHC(MO) | PIT(SU) |
| Sandy Alcantara, MIA | LAA(TU) | @NYM(SU) |
| Max Scherzer, NYM | @CIN(TU) | MIA(SU) |
Notes
- No surprise here, with Justin Verlander and Alek Manoah featuring up top.
- In this group, don’t sleep on Michael Kopech and Eric Lauer. Each has had some struggles this season, but they’re both poised to have fantastic weeks.
The Well
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Yusei Kikuchi, TOR | @OAK(TU) | @SEA(SU) |
| Julio Urias, LAD | COL(MO) | CHC(SA) |
| Johnny Cueto, CHW | MIN(MO) | DET(SA) |
| Hunter Greene, CIN | NYM(MO) | TB(SA) |
| Mitch White, LAD | COL(TU) | CHC(SU) |
| Kyle Wright, ATL | STL(MO) | WSH(SA) |
| Taijuan Walker, NYM | @CIN(MO) | MIA(SA) |
| Alex Wood, SF | @ARI(TU) | @SD(SU) |
| Noah Syndergaard, LAA | @MIA(TU) | @BAL(SU) |
| Dane Dunning, TEX | @BAL(MO) | MIN(SU) |
| Madison Bumgarner, ARI | SF(MO) | COL(SA) |
| German Marquez, COL | @LAD(TU) | @ARI(SU) |
| Nick Lodolo, CIN | NYM(TU) | TB(SU) |
| Patrick Corbin, WSH | MIA(MO) | @ATL(SA) |
Notes
- Even with the road-and-road double, Yusei Kikuchi is a must-start at Oakland and Seattle.
- We have a few pitchers’ duels coming up this week according to The Well and The Top Shelf, including Hunter Greene vs Taijuan Walker on the holiday, Carlos Rodon vs Madison Bumgarner & Max Scherzer vs Nick Lodolo on Tuesday, and Sandy Alcantara vs Max Scherzer on Saturday, and a few others.
The Bar Mat
| Pitcher | First Start | Second Start |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger Suarez, PHI | WSH(TU) | @STL(SU) |
| Jameson Taillon, NYY | @PIT(TU) | @BOS(SU) |
| Dean Kremer, BAL | TEX(MO) | LAA(SA) |
| Nick Pivetta, BOS | TB(TU) | NYY(SU) |
| Ian Anderson, ATL | STL(TU) | WSH(SU) |
| Chris Flexen, SEA | @SD(MO) | TOR(SU) |
| Dylan Bundy, MIN | @CHW(MO) | @TEX(SU) |
| Zach Plesac, CLE | @DET(MO) | @KC(SU) |
| Justin Steele, CHC | @MIL(MO) | @LAD(SA) |
| Mitch Keller, PIT | NYY(TU) | @MIL(SU) |
| Kyle Freeland, COL | @LAD(MO) | @ARI(SA) |
| Kyle Hendricks, CHC | @MIL(TU) | @LAD(SU) |
| Zack Greinke, KC | @HOU(TU) | CLE(SU) |
| Rony Garcia, DET | CLE(TU) | @CHW(SU) |
| Cole Irvin, OAK | TOR(MO) | HOU(SU) |
| Michael Wacha, BOS | TB(MO) | NYY(SA) |
| Austin Voth, BAL | TEX(TU) | LAA(SU) |
| Braxton Garrett, MIA | @WSH(MO) | @NYM(SA) |
| Jonathan Heasley, KC | @HOU(MO) | CLE(SA) |
| Paolo Espino, WSH | @PHI(TU) | @ATL(SU) |
| Andre Pallante, STL | @ATL(TU) | PHI(SU) |
| Dakota Hudson, STL | @ATL(MO) | PHI(SA) |
| Kyle Nelson, ARI | SF(TU) | COL(SU) |
| Jalen Beeks, TB | @BOS(MO) | @CIN(SU) |
Notes
- The Bar Mat is BIG this week. Beware!
- Everyone from Kyle Hendricks on down is projected to hurt you, not help you, and the rest of this list is probably behind the reasonable choices you have who are getting just one start. Remember that.
