The A's understand there won't be a tomorrow to look forward to by the time they take the field a little after six on Tuesday night down 2-0 in the best-of-five. So if the Detroit-Oakland American League Division Series is to reach a Game 4 on Wednesday, the A's would be wise to reach, surpass or go under the following numbers, or they may be enduring another Detroit sweep in a playoff series.
6
Innings pitched by Brett Anderson
This may be too much for Anderson, who provided he's not scratched, will be, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's fine beat writer Susan Slusser, coming back from an oblique injury sooner than expected with just about three weeks removed from being shut down. But given that the A's bullpen showed some leaks in Sunday's still so disappointing 5-4 loss, if Anderson can get through the sixth, it would be a good sign the Athletics are in position to win the game and extend the season at least another game.
2
Home runs hit by Athletics
Due to the aforementioned mediocre as a whole lineup, the A's best hope to get back in the series is the long ball. Provided someone is on base when the homers are hit, hitting at least two balls out of the Coliseum would give Oakland a good opportunity to win the game.
5
No more than 5 strikeouts against Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez
The A's need to turn off the fans that seem to be blowing them back into the dugout whiffing against Detroit starting pitchers: 11 K's vs. Justin Verlander in seven innings in Game 1: eight strikeouts in seven innings against Doug Fister in the second game. The lineup has to do a better job of making contact and force Detroit's infielders to make plays. Sanchez had -gulp- 167 strikeouts in the regular season and has to be salivating after his predecessors Verlander and Fister used the strikeout as a weapon in Games 1 and 2.
3
Total stolen bases by Athletics
Much of reaching this goal is a byproduct of the A's achieving the two previous standards. Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Cliff Pennington all need to not only reach base but try and steal some bases when they have an opportunity. Outside of Cespedes' two steals in the eighth inning of the second game, the A's have not attempted another steal and need to be more daring and desperate with no margin for error remaining.
0
Runs allowed by the Athletics' bullpen
One of the team's strengths during its run to the American League West title must get the job done and shut down the Tigers in the late innings, or kiss the season good-bye.
6
Innings pitched by Brett Anderson
This may be too much for Anderson, who provided he's not scratched, will be, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's fine beat writer Susan Slusser, coming back from an oblique injury sooner than expected with just about three weeks removed from being shut down. But given that the A's bullpen showed some leaks in Sunday's still so disappointing 5-4 loss, if Anderson can get through the sixth, it would be a good sign the Athletics are in position to win the game and extend the season at least another game.
2
Home runs hit by Athletics
Due to the aforementioned mediocre as a whole lineup, the A's best hope to get back in the series is the long ball. Provided someone is on base when the homers are hit, hitting at least two balls out of the Coliseum would give Oakland a good opportunity to win the game.
5
No more than 5 strikeouts against Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez
The A's need to turn off the fans that seem to be blowing them back into the dugout whiffing against Detroit starting pitchers: 11 K's vs. Justin Verlander in seven innings in Game 1: eight strikeouts in seven innings against Doug Fister in the second game. The lineup has to do a better job of making contact and force Detroit's infielders to make plays. Sanchez had -gulp- 167 strikeouts in the regular season and has to be salivating after his predecessors Verlander and Fister used the strikeout as a weapon in Games 1 and 2.
3
Hits by Yoenis Cespedes
We saw what Cespedes on the bases can mean for the A's in Sunday's game. The Athletics' offense is simply not that great, and they need the best hitter in that lineup to be taking good swings and getting on base, preferably courtesy extra-base hits.
3
Total stolen bases by Athletics
Much of reaching this goal is a byproduct of the A's achieving the two previous standards. Cespedes, Coco Crisp and Cliff Pennington all need to not only reach base but try and steal some bases when they have an opportunity. Outside of Cespedes' two steals in the eighth inning of the second game, the A's have not attempted another steal and need to be more daring and desperate with no margin for error remaining.
0
Runs allowed by the Athletics' bullpen
One of the team's strengths during its run to the American League West title must get the job done and shut down the Tigers in the late innings, or kiss the season good-bye.
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