MESA, Ariz. — A’s pitcher Sean Manaea’s slider has improved this spring, but Sunday’s start against the Cubs showed the pitch is definitely still a work in progress.
Facing Kyle Schwarber in the second inning, Manaea hung a slider in the zone that was crushed over the right field wall by Schwarber. It was the first of back-to-back home runs allowed in the inning.
Despite getting beat by Schwarber with it, Manaea continued to throw the slider for strikes and finished his outing by giving up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks.