Two of the hottest hitters in the American League go head to head once again Saturday afternoon when Zach McKinstry and the Detroit Tigers visit Lawrence Butler and the Oakland Athletics in the continuation of a three-game series.
Butler finished with three hits while McKinstry had two as the two teams combined for 27 hits over 13 innings in the A’s 7-6 win in the series opener Friday night.
Detroit (71-71) is 5 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins in the battle for the third and final American League wild-card playoff spot. The Tigers have lost three of four on a road trip that began with three games in San Diego at the start of the week.
Despite coming off the bench twice and going no more than six innings on two other occasions, McKinstry hit safely in 11 straight games to end August, helping the Tigers make a push into playoff contention.
After not starting any of the games in the San Diego series — he batted just once and flied out — he got the call at third base in the Oakland opener and came through with the seventh multi-hit outing in his past 22 games, a stretch in which he has hit .381 (24-for-63).
“I can plug Zach in wherever, and when he’s performing at this rate, why wouldn’t I?” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch asked rhetorically. “Zach’s been incredible these last few weeks.”
If McKinstry is in the lineup on Saturday, he will face left-hander Brady Basso (0-0, 5.40 ERA), who is scheduled to make his first major league start.
Basso made three relief appearances for the A’s (62-80) in his initial call-up from the minors in May and June. His longest stint came against the Twins on June 16, when he allowed two runs in two innings.
The 26-year-old had a 4-3 record with two saves and a 5.19 ERA in 16 games (12 starts) for Triple-A Las Vegas this season.
Basso and Tigers left-hander Brant Hurter (3-1, 3.25) will have the unenviable task of pitching the day after their clubs dueled through 13 innings and exhausted seven relievers apiece.
Hurter will be making his second big-league start. He got the win in a 6-2 home victory over the Los Angeles Angels in his previous start on Aug. 27, allowing two runs in five innings.
The rookie has recorded wins in each of his past three appearances, two of which have been in a bulk-inning relief role.
Like Basso, Hurter has never faced his Saturday opponent.
While Hurter was celebrating his 26th birthday on Friday, he had to watch Butler run his hitting streak to 16 games.
The second-year A’s outfielder credited a power beyond his own for the streak, which he extended Friday on a slow roller to shortstop to start the bottom of the first. He ended the night 3-for-5 with a walk.
“I’m really just trying to get the ball in play and leave it up to the baseball gods,” he said. “Put a good swing on it, put the ball in play, and then it’s out of my hands.”
Butler has hit .409 (27-for-66) during his streak, raising his season average from .237 to .270.
–Field Level Media