Las Vegas at Cleveland

Jack Perkins turned in his best start of the season five days ago, six and two-thirds shutout innings against a Tampa Bay lineup that's been running through everybody, and this is the same pitcher walking to the mound today after two other Athletics starters got hit around the last two days in this series. That context matters. Cleveland has already banked this series, up two games to none, and got there with a bullpen that worked overtime in a 12-run outburst last night, not the kind of workload a team wants to repeat in a getaway game with the division still to be decided. The Athletics have been one of the league's worst teams overall, but in one-run games specifically they're a .500 club, proof this roster competes when the score stays close even on a losing night. Gavin Williams has been excellent, but even he's had a disaster start this month, and I don't need the Athletics to win, I just need them to avoid getting run off the field for a second straight day. The Athletics win on the runline this afternoon.