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Dylan Bundy makes his Angels debut on Saturday afternoon against the A’s, while getting a first look at what socially isolating road trips will be like during a pandemic.
He said Friday the Angels didn’t do anything as a group on Thursday after arriving in Oakland.
“We’re all under the understanding that you kind of stick to your room and don’t do a whole lot, just trying to keep the spread down and keep our team healthy as we can,” Bundy said via conference call.
“It’d be nice just take a walk on the street. But it’s only 30 games on the road,” Bundy said. “But I’m a homebody person anyway. So going on the road and staying in a hotel room is pretty easy for me.”
Angels-A’s lineups
| Pos | Angels | Pos | A's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Angels | Pos | A's |
| 3B | Fletcher | SS | Semien |
| CF | Trout | CF | Laureano |
| DH | Upton | 3B | Chapman |
| 1B | Pujols | 1B | Olson (L) |
| RF | Ward | DH | Davis |
| 2B | La Stella (L) | RF | Piscotty |
| LF | Hermosillo | LF | Grossman (S) |
| C | Stassi | 2B | Pinder |
| SS | Simmons | C | Allen (L) |
Bundy has faced the A’s five times in his career, though only one of those came in Oakland. In 2017, while with the Orioles, Bundy struck out 10 in six innings, allowing three runs in a 12-5 Orioles win.
Khris Davis is 6-for-13 (.462) with three home runs in his career against Bundy, and bats fifth on Saturday, the A’s designated hitter. With the right-handed Bundy on the mound, Oakland added switch-hitter Robbie Grossman and left-handed catcher Austin Allen to their lineup for the second game of the series. Grossman is 1-for-10 against Bundy. Allen hasn’t faced him.
Left-hander Sean Manaea starts on the mound for Oakland, making his ninth career start against the Angels. Mike Trout is 7-for-17 (.412) with three home runs against him.
The Angels’ lineup is overwhelmingly right-handed, with Tommy La Stella the only left-handed batter in there, batting sixth at second base. Taylor Ward and Michael Hermosillo get their first starts of the season, both in corner outfield spots.
“You can’t ask a Hermosillo or Ward to play well if you don’t give them a chance to get at-bats,” manager Joe Maddon said Saturday. “I’m looking forward to utilizing everyone as often as possible this year. I know it’s not 162, and normally it’s easy to talk about it being a long season, and guys need to get their rest. The overarching point is these are really talented young players who need to play, and we’ll look for opportunities to get them out there.”
With the day game after a night game, Max Stassi starts at catcher. Shohei Ohtani, who will start on the mound Sunday, sits on Saturday.
In other news, Maddon said Anthony Rendon, who is day-to-day with oblique soreness, would take ground balls before Saturday’s game.
It’s actually happening. pic.twitter.com/SYgSqsSFm3
— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) July 25, 2020
Game info
Time: 1:10 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports West