DETROIT – Baseball is, by nature, a superstitious game. On a losing streak? Change everything. On a winning streak? Change nothing.
With the way Oakland’s offense performed in its series-opening win over the Tigers on Thursday, hanging up 17 runs on 16 hits, it’s a surprise that the A’s would have even wanted to leave the ballpark.
Even so, with three left-handed pitchers on the horizon to close out the series, manager Bob Melvin expects some shuffling with the A’s lineup over the next three games.
Perhaps the most notable of substitutions for Friday’s game comes in center field, where Mark Canha replaces Ramon Laureano, who’s started 42 games this season, in center field.