OAKLAND — Bob Melvin corrected himself as he discussed the impact of Bryce Harper’s return to the Washington Nationals lineup Sunday afternoon.
“That’s as good of a lineup as you’re going to see in baseball, so it just makes it a little bit better,” the A’s manager said before pausing and adding: “A lot better, excuse me.”
Harper’s decision to drop the appeal of his four-game suspension for charging Giants reliever Hunter Strickland last week worked in the A’s favor. Although Harper’s suspension was reduced by a game, making him available for Sunday’s finale at the Oakland Coliseum, his desire to expedite the process ensured that he was in Las Vegas with his family during the first two games of the three-game set rather than in the batter’s box tormenting the A’s pitching staff.