Game CXLIII Thread: The Athletics of Oakland versus the Royals of Kansas City

The World Champion Kansas City Royals head into a four-game tilt with the Oakland Athletics with little room for error and a significant amount of ground to make up to snatch a Wild Card spot. The A's are bringing up the rear in the American League West, tied with the Rays for the second-worst record in the A.L. If the Royals are to make a charge, they need to clean up in this series, and that cleaning up needs to start tonight.

The Royals will turn to starting pitcher Dillon Gee, who has unexpectedly surpassed Edinson Volquez on the depth chart. Of course, that says much more about Volquez than it does Gee, but he has been non-awful (something Volquez cannot say).

The A's will send former National Ross Detwiler to the mound. He has not been particularly good, though that shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as he has been worth just 3.1 fWAR in his 566.0 major-league innings.