The West Coast swing continues with Ivan Nova (2-1, 3.70 ERA) and Kendall Graveman (1-5, 5.84 ERA) opening the four game set in Oakland. Nova has been great since rejoining the rotation in place of the injured CC Sabathia. He has a 1.74 ERA in 10.1 innings against two teams that are no joke, the Royals and White Sox. He limited Chicago to just one run on four hits through 5.2 innings before he turned it over to the three headed monster and they shut it down. He walked away with the W and the only damage came from a Todd Frazier solo shot, nobody can fault him for that. In four career games (three starts) against the A’s, he is 1-0 with a 4.24 ERA across 17 innings.
Graveman has allowed four runs or more in each of his last outings, and has given up five homers in his last two. This includes a four run, 5.2 inning loss to the Rays his last time out. His only win of the year? That came in Yankee Stadium back in April when he allowed one run in 6.1 innings. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Bombers.
Tidbits:
Sabathia is expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend.
Nova’s ERA is 3.29 in O.Co Coliseum.
A few A’s bats have had success against Nova. Billy Butler is 5-10 (.500) with a double and RBI, Jed Lowrie is 4-11 (.364) with a double and triple, and Josh Reddick is also 4-11 with two doubles and a homer.
10:05 pm on YES.
