The Sacramento Athletics travel to Progressive Field on Saturday, September 19, to face the Cleveland Guardians in a 6:10 PM ET first pitch. Jacob Lopez gets the ball for the A's against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee in what figures to be a pivotal late-season regular season matchup. With a lineup built around Lawrence Butler, Shea Langeliers, and Zack Gelof, Sacramento has the pieces to compete in any ballpark — but Cleveland's loaded roster, anchored by José Ramírez batting second, is a genuine threat from top to bottom. Catch the action on NBCSCA or listen in on Talk 650 KSTE or A's Cast.

Pitching Matchup: Jacob Lopez vs. Tanner Bibee

Jacob Lopez draws the start for Sacramento in what is a significant assignment on the road. Lopez will need to navigate a Guardians lineup that has real pop throughout the order — Ramírez at third base is a perennial force, and the addition of Jo Adell in the cleanup spot gives Cleveland another big bat to worry about. Lopez's ability to work efficiently early in the count and keep the ball in the park at Progressive Field will be critical to keeping the A's in this game.

On the other side, Tanner Bibee presents a genuine challenge for Sacramento's lineup. Bibee has been one of Cleveland's more reliable starters, and the A's will need to work counts and get deep into the lineup to manufacture traffic against him. Henry Bolte leading off is an interesting wrinkle — if he can get on base consistently, it puts pressure on the Guardians' defense and gives the middle of the order something to work with.

Cleveland Guardians Lineup to Watch

• Steven Kwan (CF) — one of the game's better leadoff hitters, difficult to put away
• José Ramírez (3B) — batting second, as dangerous as anyone in the American League
• Chase DeLauter (DH) — a young bat capable of doing damage in the middle of the order
• Jo Adell (RF) — power threat in the cleanup spot
• Travis Bazzana (2B) — a name to watch as he develops at the big league level

Sacramento Athletics Lineup to Watch

• Henry Bolte (CF) — leads off and sets the table for the A's offense
• Jeff McNeil (1B) — contact-oriented bat hitting second, good at putting the ball in play
• Shea Langeliers (DH) — power in the three hole, a threat to change the game with one swing
• Lawrence Butler (RF) — batting cleanup and one of Sacramento's most dangerous hitters
• Zack Gelof (3B) — solid bat at fifth in the order, a key run-producer for this club

Keys to the Game for Sacramento

• Keep Ramírez quiet: The Guardians' third baseman is Cleveland's engine. Allowing him to get into a rhythm early makes a long night for the A's bullpen almost inevitable.
• Butler and Langeliers need to produce: If the middle of Sacramento's order gets going against Bibee, the A's can win this game. Those two have to carry the offensive load.
• Lopez and first-inning efficiency: Getting through the top of Cleveland's order in the first inning without damage is critical. Kwan and Ramírez back-to-back is a difficult challenge right out of the gate.
• Bullpen management: With September baseball and rosters expanded, Sacramento's skipper will need to be sharp about when to pull Lopez and how to deploy the back end of the staff.

Prediction

This is a tough road spot. Progressive Field is a real ballpark with a real crowd, and Cleveland's lineup — particularly the top two of Kwan and Ramírez — is difficult to navigate. The Athletics have the lineup to keep pace, but it comes down to what Lopez gives them. If he can eat five or six innings and keep the score manageable, the A's offense is capable of making things interesting late. Sacramento drops a tight one, 4-3, in a game that could go either way through six innings.