Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea gets the call on Tue Aug 10, 2021 against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Here Manaea stands on the mound after surrendering an RBI single in the first inning against the San Diego Padres Jake Cronenworth on Tue Aug 3, 2021 (file photo from sfchronicle.com)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Oakland A’s open a three game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Tuesday night after having Monday off. The A’s are coming off a three game sweep over the Texas Rangers.

#2 The Rangers struggles might be the A’s thankfulness as the Boston Red Sox are flailing and the Toronto Blue Jays are emerging in the Wild Card race and with the A’s winning they gain ground in the Wild Card race as they hold first place.

#3 The A’s have won seven of their last nine games and the A’s at one time were behind the first place Houston Astros in the AL West by as much as 4.5 games have now cut the lead to just two games.

#4 For the first time since June 19 the A’s are some 16 games over .500 and what helps after the A’s acquired outfielder Starling Marte from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline especially after the 80 game suspension of outfielder Ramon Laureano for banned substance use.

#5 A’s travel to Cleveland Tuesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland for the first of three games, the A’s will be starting Sean Manaea (8-7 ERA 3.26) and for Cleveland Triston McKenzie (1-6 ERA 5.89) talk about this match and series.

Join Barbara for the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com