I have hit a mini-rough patch; not so much having terrible nights of late but losing that swing game that is the difference between and up or down night. So if this hits, I'm done today. The Athletics have utterly quit on a seven-game slide and this is being played at 9:40 Pacific time so all their body clocks are likely askew. Due to injury, etc., today's lineup is quite lame -- I can barely tell you who a couple of guys are (Jonathan Ornelas?). The Reds aren't out of the WC race and have won five of six. Andrew Abbott has been hit or miss on the mound but only a few A's have seen him and they are 14 games under vs. lefties.
CaesarтАЩs. This entire season, the home/road splits for the Athletics when they face left-handed pitching has been stark. At home, they hit .282 - on the road, theyтАЩre at .205. On the road today, against the RedsтАЩ Andrew Abbott, I donтАЩt see them being able to string hits together. Abbott has kept 15 of his last 17 opponents under this line, pitching to a 3.09 ERA over that span.
Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Walton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Marte is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Williamson (shoulder) will make his next rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Suarez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run during the Reds' 8-2 loss to the Nationals on Saturday.
Burns (13-2) took the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six across 5.1 innings.
Harris gave up a run on three hits and a walk over 1.1 innings Saturday to record his 10th save of the season in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox. He struck out two.
Jump (5-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 11.
The Reds optioned Petty to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
The Athletics recalled Tur from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
