MLB Game Preview - Oakland at Toronto

Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:07 PM EDT

The Oakland Athletics won all seven games they played last season against the Toronto Blue Jays.

But the A's have not been able to beat the Blue Jays in four games this season, including a 4-2 loss Friday night on Brandon Drury's two-run, two-out walk-off home run.

The visiting A's have another chance to solve the Blue Jays on Saturday. Left-hander Brett Anderson (3-1, 3.04 ERA) will start for Oakland, with right-hander Aaron Sanchez (2-1, 2.77) pitching for Toronto.

The Blue Jays won Friday on a night when there was a buzz at the ballpark, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his major league debut. The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball.

Asked about the crowd's reaction to his debut, Guerrero replied, "I was just concentrating on every at-bat. Just trying to do my job. It was exciting."

He came through with a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth, and pinch runner Alen Hanson came home on Drury's winning homer.

The A's had tied the game on a two-run, pinch-hit home run by Robbie Grossman against reliever Joe Biagini in the eighth.

Chad Pinder, who made a fine catch at the left field wall in the fourth inning on Guerrero's drive, almost put the ball out in the top of the ninth against Ken Giles. But it hit the top of the wall for a two-out double, and the A's did not score.

"Talk about a game of inches," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That ball he hits, if it's another two inches, (A's closer Blake) Treinen's in the game and we're ahead. So unfortunately, it had a little too much top spin on it."

Another twist to the game was that Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo wanted to give Drury the day off, and the infielder said he wanted to play.

Anderson, who will be making his sixth start of the season, picked up the win in each of his first three starts. He has surrendered just one home run in 26 2/3 innings.

He took the loss in Toronto's 5-4 victory on Sunday, allowing four hits, one walk and two runs in 2 2/3 innings. That snapped his winning streak of four games dating to Sept. 19.

Anderson is 0-2 with a 3.72 ERA in three career starts against Toronto. He was 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 17 starts with Oakland last year and had two stints on the disabled list.

Sanchez also will be making his sixth start this season. He left his start on Sunday with a broken nail on his right middle finger. He has been hampered the past two seasons seasons because of finger problems, but was confident that he could return from the latest problem to make his next start.

In five career appearances (three starts) against Oakland, Sanchez is 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA.

With Guerrero playing third base, Brandon Drury moved to second base on Friday.

Before the game, the Blue Jays returned infielder Richard Urena to Triple-A Buffalo on option to make room for Guerrero. Shortstop Freddy Galvis did not start for the third straight game because of a sore hamstring but has yet to be placed on the injured list.

--Field Level Media