Keys to the game (5/30)

Keys to the game-

1.) Run it out! The Oakland Athletics rank dead last when it comes to committing errors. In the 50 games that they have played, they have committed 51 errors. Just to give you an idea of how bad Oakland’s defense is… the team that ranks 29^th (second to last) in the Majors is the Tampa Bay Rays- in the 54 games they have played, they have committed 38 errors. Knowing this, our offense needs to make sure that they do not give up on any play. Even if it is seems like a routine “easy out”, don’t give up on the play. Run out every ball hit. Put pressure on their defense to make not only perfect plays, but routine ones as well.

2.) Know what they are looking for, and avoid it. Trevor Bauer enters tonight’s game with a 4-4 record, and a 6.30 ERA. In 50 innings pitched he has struck out 59, and walked 18. While he has struggled most of the season thus far, he has pitched substantially better in his last 3 starts (going 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA). He has been limiting runs and avoiding nuclear innings, which is exactly what we need him to continue to do tonight. The Athletics are an all or nothing offense. They hit a lot of home runs (ranked 3^rd in the league), but they also strike out a lot (ranked 4^th in the league). Bauer can use this against them by working the corners of the plate, using his high fastball to change the eye level, and make them expand their strike zone.

3.) Rise to the occasion. After watching the Indians offense put up crooked numbers the past two games in a row, the hope is that they can come out tonight and continue to do more of the same. They will have to figure out Oakland’s Sonny Gray, which may be a challenge. Gray missed the first portion of the season recovering from a strained right shoulder, but he has put up strong numbers since returning (2-1 with a 3.34 ERA). He is coming off of a great start against the Marlins where he pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits while fanning 11. It is safe to say that his shoulder is no longer giving him any issues. It is important that our offense continues to manufacture runs and carry out the fundamentals of small ball. Don’t slide back into the pattern of over-swinging out of desperation. Focus on making good contact with the ball and finding gaps.