The Oakland Athletics will try again to secure a series win Thursday when they wrap up a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The A’s saw their seven-game winning streak come to an end with a 6-3 loss Wednesday night. They will try to bounce back with Paul Blackburn on the mound. The Rays will go with rookie right-hander Taj Bradley.
Blackburn didn’t make his season debut until the end of May, but has been a stabilizing force in Oakland’s rotation. He is coming off of his best start of the season where he allowed four hits and struck out five over six scoreless innings against the Brewers.