A's lineup: Moss and Carter platoon is back

Programming note: Yankees-As coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with As Pregame Live and baseball from the Coliseum follows at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet California!

OAKLAND -- The A's have to endure a four-game series with the A.L. East-leading Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are hot right now. At 29-11 they have the best record in Major League Baseball since June 2. Over that same span, the A's are 25-14, making them the second hottest team in baseball. The Yankees have won their last nine games at the Oakland Coliseum. Oakland Athletics (47-44) lineupCoco Crisp, CF
Jemile Weeks, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Seth Smith, DH
Brandon Moss, 1B
Brandon Inge, 3B
Derek Norris, C
Cliff Pennington, SS
Instant AnalysisThe only change in the lineup from Wednesday is that Brandon Inge and Derek Norris are flipped. Norris is in an 0-for-24 slump. Inge broke out in the previous game with a homer and a double.Seth Smith's struggles as DH continue. He is batting .171 with zero home runs and four RBI as DH, compared to .298 with eight homers and 20 RBI as the left fielder. On Wednesday A's manager Bob Melvin said that Smith will have to deal with being the DH. Chris Carter is on the bench again. With Coco Crisp back in the lineup it appears Melvin is going back to his Brandon MossCarter platoon. Carter will start against lefties and will be used as a pinch hitter in games started by righties. Carter's three-run walk-off homer came as a pinch hitter, so the plan has worked so far. However, the right-handed slugger is batting .357 with three homers and seven RBI vs. righties and .267 with two homers and two RBI vs. lefties.Top of the OrderCrisp returned to the lineup on Wednesday and went 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and a spectacular diving catch in center field. He is batting .288 with 11 walks and 13 runs as the leadoff hitter. Heart of the OrderYoenis Cespedes could be the difference maker in this series. He was on the DL the last time the Yankees came to town and swept the A's. Since the All-Star break, Cespedes is batting .524 with two homers and six RBI. Look for Yoenis to menace the Yankees pitching staff.
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Bottom of the OrderCliff Pennington's average has slipped below the Mendoza line at .199. He has to find a way to turn it around. Usually this is the time of year when Pennington heats up. He is a career .293 hitter in July. Except this July he is only batting .125. Starting PitchersThe A's will be facing Freddy Garcia (4-2, 5.25 ERA) and sending rookie A.J. Griffin (1-0, 2.63 ERA) to the mound.