MLB Game Preview - Milwaukee at Oakland
Thu Aug 1, 2019 3:37 PM EDT

MIN
4
MIA
5
F(12)
SF
2
PHI
10
F
NYM
4
CHW
0
F
MIL
3
OAK
5
F
TOR
11
BAL
2
F
TB
9
BOS
4
F
HOU
7
CLE
1
F
CHC
0
STL
8
F
CIN
1
ATL
4
F
SD
2
LAD
8
F
New-look Brewers, A's meet in series finale
Thu Aug 1, 2019 2:15 AM

Two teams awaiting help from trade-deadline acquisitions close out a tightly contested three-game interleague series Thursday afternoon when the visiting Milwaukee Brewers take on the Oakland Athletics.

After both teams made moves to bolster their staffs Wednesday, the Brewers used superior pitching to draw even in the series with a 4-2 victory. Jordan Lyles, acquired earlier in the week from Pittsburgh, pitched and earned the win.

The A's had won the series opener 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday.

The Brewers expect to have left-hander Drew Pomeranz available out of the bullpen in the series finale. He was acquired from San Francisco along with Ray Black, who was sent to Triple-A.

Milwaukee also added former Rays reliever Jake Faria to their pitching mix, sending him to Triple-A as well.

"We thought it was important to add to the depth of our pitching roster given the injuries and some of the attrition we've had over the last month, so we were pleased that we were able to accomplish that," Brewers general manager David Stearns told reporters Wednesday. "I think we have a team that's very capable of staying in the playoff race and advancing in the playoffs."

The Brewers responded to the news of the acquisitions in the best possible way Wednesday night, getting a home run from Lorenzo Cain on the second pitch of the game and never looking back against the A's.

Right-hander Chase Anderson (5-2, 3.89 ERA) will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Lyles when he gets the ball to start the series finale.

The 31-year-old has never pitched in Oakland, but he has a good history against the A's, going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts.

Anderson also enters the game on a nice run, having gone 2-0 with a 2.72 ERA in his last seven starts.

He will be up against Oakland right-hander Daniel Mengden (5-2, 4.85), who could find himself pitching for his future in the Athletics' rotation.

Oakland added veteran right-hander Tanner Roark to the staff in a trade with Cincinnati on Wednesday, giving the A's two recent additions. They imported Homer Bailey from Kansas City on July 14.

"We're in a lot better shape than we were at the All-Star break," A's general manager David Forst told reporters Wednesday. "We went into the All-Star break worried about what happens if we have an injury or how does our rotation work, and I feel a lot better about it now."

The A's have not announced when Roark will make his first start. He pitched Tuesday for the Reds against Pittsburgh, which makes Sunday in the homestand finale against St. Louis a possibility.

With Mike Fiers and Brett Anderson set in the Oakland rotation, and Sean Manaea closing in on a return from an injury, Mengden finds himself no sure-thing in the team's plans moving forward.

The 26-year-old had been on a four-game and five-decision winning streak before suffering a 5-2 loss to Texas on Friday.

He's 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one career start against the Brewers, that coming in a 4-2 home loss in 2016.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Milwaukee            
Oakland            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Chase Anderson - BOS
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Oakland
Homer Bailey - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Milwaukee

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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