The Atlanta Braves have finalized their starting pitcher for Tuesday night's matchup against the Oakland Athletics, naming left-hander José Suárez to take the mound for game two of the series.

A's Lineup Adjustments for the Left-Handed Starter

This pitching selection by the Braves presents a challenge for the A's, as several key offensive players are left-handed hitters. On Sunday, only two left-handed bats, Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom, remained in the starting lineup against Toronto's southpaw, Eric Lauer.

Lawrence Butler received his second consecutive day off on Sunday. Kurtz notably struggled against left-handed pitching last season, managing only a .197 batting average against them.

Second Base Decisions

Second baseman Jeff McNeil was also held out on Sunday, allowing Darell Hernaiz his first start of the season. For Tuesday's game against Suárez, the A's might opt for Andy Ibáñez at second base to limit McNeil's exposure to the left-hander.

Ibáñez is viewed as a veteran addition specifically brought in to perform well against left-handed pitching, which the struggling A's offense desperately needs.

Brent Rooker: The Key to Unlocking Suárez

Given the youth of the A's roster, the most experienced and successful hitter against Suárez is Brent Rooker. Rooker has faced Suárez five times in his career, achieving an impressive 4-for-5 record that includes three solo home runs.

The A's offensive strategy for Tuesday appears straightforward: get runners on base ahead of Rooker to maximize his power potential against the starter. As the saying goes, "Tell 'em Wash!"

Uncertainty Over Pitch Count

A significant unknown is how long Suárez is expected to pitch. Since he was only named the fifth starter on Monday, it is unclear if he will be treated as a standard rotation member or a short-stint specialist for this specific matchup.

This uncertainty directly impacts how many opportunities Rooker will receive to face the Braves pitcher during the game.

Historical Dominance Against Suárez

Rooker's first home run off Suárez occurred on April 24, 2023, shortly after Rooker began establishing himself following Seth Brown's injury. That first blast came on the very first pitch he saw, a middle-middle offering.

In that same April 24th contest, Rooker hit a second home run in the third inning off a belt-high pitch. That game saw Suárez surrender five home runs to A's hitters, including back-to-back shots from Rooker and Jesus Aguilar, plus one from Kevin Smith.

Later that year, on October 1, 2023, Rooker singled and homered against Suárez. In that final meeting of the game, Rooker hit a deep drive to center field that was ultimately caught by Mike Trout.

The Rest of the A's Offense

Excluding Rooker, the remainder of the A's lineup has struggled against Suárez, managing only 2-for-11 in career matchups. However, some of those hitters have developed significantly since their last encounter.

  • Lawrence Butler is 1-for-2 against the left-hander.
  • Andy Ibáñez is 1-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs against Suárez.

Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom are the only other A's players with prior experience facing him. Langeliers is notably the only A's player to have struck out against Suárez, a statistic that might suggest a positive shift if the team's early-season strikeout rate slows down on Tuesday.