Athletics vs Padres Preview: Young A's Look to Spark Offense

You watched an instant classic yesterday at Petco Park. The Athletics jumped ahead with early runs—Kurtz doubled and Cortes scored in the first inning, then Rooker drove in Kurtz to make it 2-0. But the Padres weren't done. Machado crushed a two-run bomb to left-center that tied it up fast. The scoring kept coming all game long. By the eighth inning, the Padres were rolling. Sheets singled and brought home two runs. Bogaerts added a sacrifice fly. When the dust settled, San Diego won 7-3. That's the kind of offensive firepower that wins games in May.

Today's matchup puts Michael King on the bump for the Padres. King ranks around 50th in baseball right now and has been striking out batters at a solid clip this season. He's got a 1.00 WHIP, which means he's not walking many guys or giving up tons of hits. That's the kind of control you want from your starter. Meanwhile, the Athletics counter with Luis Medina on the mound. San Diego's bats are hot after yesterday's victory. The Padres sit at 30-20 on the year and they're hungry to keep winning at home. King's job is simple: throw strikes, let your defense work, and keep Oakland's hitters off balance.

Here's the thing about the Athletics: their pitching staff has to be really good to keep them in games. Oakland is 26-25 overall and just dropped yesterday's contest. The team has injuries piling up—shortstop Jacob Wilson is out with a shoulder problem, center fielder Denzel Clarke has a high-grade hamstring strain, and infielder Max Muncy is recovering from a hand fracture. Those are tough losses. But this game is all about what King and Medina can do on the mound. If Medina throws strikes and limits damage, the Athletics have a real shot. San Diego's bats are rolling right now. This is Oakland's moment to punch back.