Series Preview: Athletics at Pirates

As the Pirates (14-14) look to put an eight-game losing streak even further in the rear view after a pair of midweek wins at Texas, the Oakland Athletics come to town smarting. The A’s have lost six in a row, getting swept at Toronto and Boston, the first two stops in a nine-game road trip.

Oakland has lost 11 of 15, with its offense scuffling. The A’s sit five games back of the Astros, in last place of the American League West.

Schedule

Friday, 7:05 p.m. — Brett Anderson (3-2, 4.35 ERA) vs. Joe Musgrove (1-2, 1.54), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. — Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.75) vs. Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.38), TV: FS1

Sunday, 1:35 p.m. — Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.97) vs. Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.42), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Athletics

14-19 (15-18 Pythag, 4.48 RS/G, 4.97 RA/G)

Offense

The A’s are calling up switch-hitting outfield prospect Skye Bolt before Friday’s game. He’s slashed .325/.400/.675 with six home runs and three stolen bases this season with Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Matt Chapman (.289/.385/.570, 8 HR) leads Oakland hitters in fWAR. ... Marcus Semien (.302/.378/.460, 4 HR) has gone from a liability to an asset defensively at shortstop. ... Ramon Laureano (.234/.289/.351) isn’t hitting a ton, but he’s an exciting player to watch in the field on a team Pirates fans don’t see too often. ... Khris Davis (.228/.291/.496, 10 HR) is going for his fifth straight season hitting exactly .247. ... Jurickson Profar is having some throwing issues, with seven errors — six throwing — already.

Pitching

Brett Anderson (5.23 K/9, 3.48 BB/9) first pitched for the A’s when Connie Mack was the manager. ... Lou Trivino (11.08 K/9, 1.38 BB/9) went to Slippery Rock. ... Chris Bassitt has allowed one run, struck out 16 and walked four in 12 innings over two excellent starts so far. ... Old pal Joakim Soria (9.42 K/9, 4.40 BB/9) has had a shaky start.