Mike Fiers has been nothing short of spectacular since the Oakland Athletics acquired hi

m from the Detroit Tigers in a waiver deal Aug. 6.On Sunday Carlos Carrasco Jersey , the veteran right-hander tries to put a stop to Oakland’s mini-skid when he goes against the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.By losing Saturday night, the A’s dropped their second tight decision in the last three games, which qualifies as a slump for one of the hottest teams in baseball.Article continues below ...They lost to the Rays, another hot team, meaning the series is on the line Sunday. But there’s more — a LOT more — at stake than just the series in this finale.Saturday’s loss kept the A’s from getting back to within a half-game of the losing New York Yankees for home-field advantage in the wild-card game. It also dropped Oakland 3 1/2 games back of the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West.In a game that featured the first matchup of “openers,” or relievers starting games worked by the bullpen, Oakland rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to pull into a 4-4 tie but then lost 7-5 – their fourth setback in six games against the Rays this season. Jake Bauers’ three-run homer was the winner.Diego Castillo will again be the “opener” for the Rays on Sunday — after Saturday’s game saw Tampa Bay improve to 27-19 when starting a reliever.The Rays, 19-5 in their last 24 games and 13-3 in their last 16 home games, kept their slight chances of catching the A’s for the second wild card as they are eight games out.Fiers is 5-0 with a 2.72 ERA, has 42 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings and has the opposition batting .208 against him in seven starts with the Athletics. He is 12-6 with a 3.29 ERA overall on the season, and comes in 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in four career starts against the Rays.He has a 7.31 ERA in three starts at the Trop and has not worked against Tampa Bay this season.The A’s went to the “opener” because of Trevor Cahill’s back issue and may have to use the new system again Tuesday or Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels.They rallied to tie and had the bases loaded with one out in the eighth inning before a strike-three call on Marcus Semien kept the score tied. The rally went nowhere and manager Bob Melvin was ejected by umpire Larry Vanover after the inning.“Obviously, I thought it was outside or I wouldn’t have been arguing like I did,” Melvin said. “It is what it is. … He’s trying to grind through that at-bat (nine pitches) and drive in a run Cliff Pennington Jersey , you get a call that’s not a strike and now you don’t have the advantage where we were.”Bauers snapped a 5-for-63 slump with three hits and four RBIs.Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash talked before the game about the use of the reliever in the first inning and said it has helped Castillo and Ryne Stanek.“I don’t think going into it we put the greatest emphasis on the actual opener,” he said. “I think we’ve learned as the season has kind of evolved that that’s just as important, and it’s helped those guys’ psyche when they get on the mound. And hopefully it helps their psyche when they get on the mound in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning. Ryne and Diego both, they’ve gotten big outs in different roles.”‘The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday that the A’s will not be welcomed back in Nashville, with speculation on a move of their Triple-A club to Las Vegas, soon to also be the home of the Raiders. Las Vegas finished an agreement with the New York Mets this month. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Matt Harvey has spent six years in the major leagues and will turn 30 years old on March 27, but the Los Angeles Angels pitcher said he felt as if he was making his first big league start on Wednesday.Harvey gave up one run and two hits over three innings against the Colorado Rockies in his first spring training outing with his new team. The right-hander, slowed this year because of a glute strain, threw 44 pitches. His fastball reached 95.6 mph.“There were definitely some nerves,” Harvey said. “I texted a few people before the game. I said, ‘Man Joey Votto Jersey , I feel like I’m 21 years old again, starting my baseball career in the big leagues. It was fun. It was good to finally get out there. I was pretty bummed about missing those three days early in camp. I think after today, I’m pretty much caught up.”“Overall, it was a good outing,” Angels manager Brad Ausmus said.Harvey was 7-9 with a 4.94 ERA in 28 starts and four relief appearances last season with the New York Mets and Cincinnati. He signed an $11 million, one-year contract with the Angels this offseason.“It’s the first time I’ve been in Arizona for spring, being with a new team for spring training,” Harvey said. “I think finally being healthy and throwing the ball the way I want to, it feels like I’m starting over again. It’s kind of nice having that feeling.”Harvey retired the Rockies in order in the first, then gave up a leadoff double to Trevor Story in the second on a curveball. Story scored on Raimel Tapia’s sacrifice fly. Tony Wolters also hit a lead off double off Harvey in the third.Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy called for more curves, a pitch that Harvey said he hasn’t felt comfortable throwing in the past. That may change. Harvey was happy with his slider, too.“Once that starts working, that’s how I’ve had my success in the past http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-cliff-pennington-jersey ,” Harvey said. “Being able to work that in, hopefully the curveball catches up and we’ll have a couple more looks.”He did peek at the radar gun readings on the stadium scoreboard a few times.“It’s still early,” Harvey said. “I think getting more comfortable and being free and easy and letting yourself go and not be so mechanical, then things will start coming out a little easier.”NOTES: LHP Andrew Heaney is to make his second start on Friday. He had missed a scheduled outing because of elbow inflammation. … Justin Upton (knee tendinitis) was on track to get into a game soon, Ausmus said. … Two-way player Shohei Ohtani is still limited to soft toss as he rehabilitates from Tommy John surgery. There’s no timetable for the next step. “I just want him to stay on the program we have,” Ausmus said. “He’s a new case study because he’s a pitcher who is also a designated hitter. We don’t want to risk either parts of that career.” Ohtani was expected to be able to hit this year and pitch in 2020. “I think of them, the hitting program and pitching program, as two separate programs,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. … Ausmus learned how to say “good morning” from the Japanese media on Wednesday. … Ausmus turns 50 in April but he’s feeling even older these days. “I played with Tony Gwynn, and played against his son,” Ausmus said. “I played with Cecil Fielder, I played against his son. Now I managed Torii Hunter and now I’m managing his son (Torii Hunter Jr.). I’m getting up there.”