On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg the A’s open a four game home series with the Chicago White Sox at the Oakland Coliseum. A’s number one ace Sonny Gray was scheduled to start but called in with food poisoning and was replaced by Rich Hill. Hill went up against the Sox Chris Sale Monday’s opener. The Sox come into the Coliseum with a healthy roster to start the season and they are leaning on their slugger first baseman Jose Abreau who hit in the three hole on opening night.

Abreau is the guy that Sox manager Robin Ventura is leaning on to clear the bases and be in the top three in the RBI leaders on the team. Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera is also expected by Ventura to add some punch in the Sox line up. Cabrera whose made the rounds the last few years from San Francisco, Toronto and now on the Sox hit .273 last season with 70 runs, 172 hits, 12 homers and 77 RBIs.

The A’s starters for this series, Hill (Monday), Sonny Gray rumored but not confirmed for Tuesday night, right hander Chris Bassitt on Wednesday and to close out the series A’s starter Kendall Graveman. The A’s designated hitter Billy Butler struggled last season at the plate and is looking for a more productive year as team DH A’s manager Bob Melvin has the confidence that Butler will be moving guys over a lot this season.

Catch the A’s podcast each week with Jerry Feitelberg listen below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com