Two of MLB’s top hitters go head-to-head when the Athletics and Kansas City Royals meet at 10:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, at Sutter Health Park. Jacob Wilson has a .313 batting average (second in league) for the Athletics, while Bobby Witt Jr. ranks ninth at .295. Luis Morales (4-2, 3.07 ERA) gets the start for the Athletics, who are 76-84 this season and fourth in the AL West. Michael Wacha (9-13, 4.00 ERA) is expected to start for the Royals, who are 80-80 and third in the AL Central.
How to watch Kansas City Royals at AthleticsRoyals vs. Athletics odds
Injury reportsAthletics
Denzel Clarke: 10 Day IL (Abductor), Zack Gelof: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Sean Newcomb: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Joey Estes: 15 Day IL (Back), Jacob Lopez: 15 Day IL (Flexor), Jack Perkins: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Luis Medina: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ben Bowden: 60 Day IL (Lat), Austin Wynns: 60 Day IL (Abdomen), Grant Holman: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund: 60 Day IL (Hip), Jose Leclerc: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)
Royals
Kyle Isbel: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Ryan Bergert: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Harvey: 15 Day IL (Abductor), Bailey Falter: 15 Day IL (Biceps), Lucas Erceg: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Seth Lugo: 15 Day IL (Back), Alec Marsh: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), James McArthur: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kris Bubic: 60 Day IL (Rotator cuff)
Stats to know
Sacramento’s Brent Rooker has hit 30 home runs this season. He has also tallied 89 RBIs and has scored 92 runs. In 694 plate appearances, he has recorded a .263 BA, .335 OBP and .482 SLG with a 9.1% walk rate and a 22% strikeout rate.
In 618 plate appearances, Tyler Soderstrom is hitting .279/.350/.479 with a .829 OPS and eight steals on 11 attempts. He has hit 25 long balls, driven in 93 runs and scored 75 times.
Kansas City’s Witt is slashing .295/.352/.502 this season with 23 home runs, 85 RBIs and an OPS of .854 (14th in MLB). He has an 18.5% strikeout rate and a 7.2% walk rate in 677 plate appearances, and he has scored 99 total runs. Witt has recorded 37 steals on 46 attempts.
In 672 plate appearances, Vinnie Pasquantino has hit 32 long balls (16th in MLB), tallied 111 RBIs (5th in MLB) and scored 72 runs. He is batting .265/.324/.476 and has posted a 15.6% strikeout rate and a 7.3% walk rate.
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