A's lineup: If it ain't broke, don't fix it

The Oakland A's are 15-2 in July. They are on a season-high six-game winning streak, and are eight games over .500 for the first time since 2008. Oakland Athletics (52-44)
Coco Crisp, CF
Jonny Gomes, LF
Josh Reddick, RF
Yoenis Cespedes, DH
Chris Carter, 1B
Brandon Inge, 3B
Derek Norris, C
Brandon Hicks, SS
Jemile Weeks, 2B
Instant AnalysisLook familiar? It's the same exact lineup that scored seven runs on Tuesday. Get used to seeing this look. Starting with the first game of this series the A's could be facing up to seven lefties in a row. Top of the OrderCoco Crisp continues to improve at the top of the lineup. His batting average has climbed up to .247 -- he was hitting .156 on May 28. Since May, Crisp has started making much greater contact. Check out his line drive percentage by month: May: 5.1, June: 14.8, July: 20.4. He is starting to get into a groove at the plate and the results are showing. Heart of the OrderJosh Reddick is 2 for 6 with a home run in his career against Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero.
A couple of days off over the All-Star Break have proven to benefit Yoenis Cespedes. The Cuban Cannon is batting .475 (19 for 40) since the break, which is best in the American League. He has four homers and 12 RBIs in that span. Cespedes leads the A's with 48 RBIs even though he has missed 32 games this season. He is hitting .343 with runners in scoring position and eight of his 13 homers have come with runners on base. Bottom of the OrderJemile Weeks started in the ninth spot for the first time this season and the results were good. He went 2 for 4 with an RBI-triple, and a run scored. Weeks hit .394 in 10 games batting ninth in 2011. Maybe the A's have found the recipe for success for Weeks. Starting PitchersA.J. Griffin (2-0, 2.70 ERA) will take the mound for the A's. It will be his sixth start of the season. He has lasted six innings in all five of his starts and hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start. Left-handed pitcher Ricky Romero (8-6, 5.22 ERA) will oppose the A's. Romero is 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA in his career against the A's.