Programming note: Coverage of the A's and Blue Jays game begins on Comcast SportsNet California at 4 p.m. Stick around after the final out for A's Postgame Live!
The Oakland A's are a season-high seven games over .500 and are riding a five-game winning streak. Fresh off a home stand in which they went 5-1 against the top two teams in all of baseball, it is safe to say the A's are on a roll.
Oakland A's (51-44)
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1. Coco Crisp (S) CF
2. Jonny Gomes (R) DH
3. Josh Reddick (L) RF
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. Chris Carter (R) 1B
6. Brandon Inge (R) 3B
7. Derek Norris (R) C
8. Brandon Hicks (R) SS
9. Jemile Weeks (S) 2B
Instant AnalysisJemile Weeks batting ninth is an interesting development. On this lineup analysis page I've often mentioned that Seth Smith or Jonny Gomes might be better suited batting second, it has yet to happen with Coco Crisp and Jemile Weeks both in the lineup. The rest of the lineup is pretty standard considering the Blue Jays have a left-handed starting pitcher on the mound. Top of the OrderCoco Crisp stole his 100th base with the A's on Sunday. He has really taken to the leadoff role since reclaiming that spot. Jonny Gomes isn't getting much playing time, but when he does, he performs. He is 7-for-13 since the All-Star break and has five homers and 13 RBI in his last 21 games. Heart of the OrderYoenis Cespedes is really emerging as a star in Major League Baseball. Many thought his learning curve would be much steeper than it has been. The Cuban cannon is hitting .299 this season and he is only going to get better as he continues to learn and adjust to the league. He is also batting .333 (23-for-69) with runners in scoring position, and eight of his 13 homers have come with runners on base. He is hitting .500 since the All-Star break.Bottom of the OrderWeeks has not started a game batting ninth this season. He batted there in 10 games in 2011 -- hitting .394. Weeks is batting .183 over his last 20 games. The sophomore slump has caught up to the speedy second baseman who was electric in his rookie year. As the ninth-place hitter, he can serve as a pseudo-leadoff. It is actually not a bad place for him to be batting in the lineup. It might work out well. Starting PitchersTravis Blackley (2-2, 2.86 ERA) will get the start for Oakland. Blackley has not allowed a home run in his last eight games (45.2 innings and 179 batters faced).Brett Cecil (2-2, 6.34 ERA) will be on the mound for the Jays. Cecil is 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA in his career vs. Oakland.
Toronto Blue Jays (48-47)
1. Brett Lawrie (R) 3B
2. Colby Rasmus (L) CF
3. Edwin Encarnacion (R) 1B
4. Adam Lind (L) DH
5. J.P. Arencibia (R) C
6. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
7. Yunel Escobar (R) SS
8. Travis Snider (L) LF
9. Rajai Davis (R) RF