The Sacramento Athletics head to Phoenix for a Tuesday, July 21 road matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, with first pitch set for 9:40 PM ET. Jack Perkins gets the ball for the A's, squaring off against Kohl Drake on the Arizona side. For a Sacramento club building toward what it wants to be in the NL West, every road game against a divisional opponent carries weight — and a trip to the desert is never a gimme.

Pitching Matchup: Jack Perkins vs. Kohl Drake

Jack Perkins draws the start for the Athletics. The right-hander has been part of Sacramento's rotation as the team works through the backend of its summer schedule, and how he handles a big-league lineup in a warm Arizona night will be worth watching closely. Chase Field is no pitcher's paradise — the retractable roof and warm desert air can make life difficult — so Perkins will need to be sharp with his command and work efficiently through the Arizona order.

On the other side, the Diamondbacks send Kohl Drake to the mound. Drake is a name worth knowing as Arizona continues to develop pitching depth, and the Athletics' lineup will get its first real look at what he brings. New matchups like this one are where preparation and plate discipline separate teams. Sacramento hitters will need to stay patient early and make Drake work for his outs.

Keys to Watch for the Athletics

• Perkins' command: Keeping the ball in the park at Chase Field has to be the priority. Walks and mistake pitches in this ballpark get amplified fast, so Perkins needs to stay ahead in counts and limit free passes.
• Plate discipline against an unknown arm: Facing Drake for the first time, Sacramento hitters should resist expanding the zone early. Working deep into counts will raise Drake's pitch count and give the A's lineup more looks at his arsenal.
• Road environment: Chase Field is a hostile stop on any NL West road trip. How the Athletics respond to an energized Arizona crowd will say something about where this group is mentally heading into the back half of the season.
• Bullpen depth: If Perkins has a short outing, Sacramento's relievers will need to bridge innings and keep the game within reach. Bullpen management on the road is always a factor.

Broadcast Information

Sacramento fans can catch Tuesday's game on NBCSCA or listen on Talk 650 KSTE. Spanish-language coverage is available on La Campesina 101.9 FM and 860 AM. Streaming fans can also find the game on A's Cast.

Prediction

This one hinges almost entirely on what Perkins gives the Athletics in the early innings. If he can get through five innings while keeping Arizona's lineup off the bases, Sacramento has the offensive capability to put runs on the board against a pitcher the lineup hasn't seen before. That newness cuts both ways, though — Drake could keep the A's off-balance early if Perkins doesn't hold up his end. Call it a competitive game that goes down to the middle innings. A's 4, Diamondbacks 3.