OAKLAND — The Athletics are getting a sneak preview of the future Thursday night as Dustin Fowler bats leadoff in the first game of a three-game series at the Coliseum against the Kansas City Royals.
Fowler, whose bat has come around of late after a slow start following his promotion from Triple-A Nashville, is part of a batting order shuffle in which shortstop Marcus Semien drops to No. 6 after being either first or second all season.
“Just changing things up a little bit,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Sometimes you want to get a guy out of a certain spot and give him a look somewhere else.