If Tarik Skubal is dealing, sure he could go a full nine. But I think we all now believe the Tigers are going to trade their ace lefty. So to me it would be criminal to push him past six innings short of just utter domination and small pitch count, because the dude already spent several weeks on the IL with elbow troubles. In four starts back, since not more than six innings or 94 pitches. The Tigers also were off Monday so every reliever is available. The A's hit lefties well, ranking eighth in OPS against them, and have been a much better road club. So get that Skubal pitch count up. The model has six IP exactly and clearly that's what I'm hoping.

Tarik Skubal is back to looking like his pre-surgery self with nine strikeouts in each of his last two games. The A's are terrible, offensively, on the road, hitting .229/.304/.359 and averaging 9.25 strikeouts per game. They also have an above-average strikeout rate vs. lefties.