It seems silly to think of the A's -- winners of 97 games during the regular season -- as underdogs. But here we are, in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium, and the visitors from Oakland will face long odds in many fans' minds Wednesday night.
Compounding that belief is the fact the A's will start right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks, then turn the game over to its bullpen. It's an odd strategy in a winner-take-all game, where most baseball teams ride their ace. But Oakland has no ace to speak of -- injuries have beset its rotation -- so this will have to do.
It's not as if Hendriks is a slouch -- far from it, actually. He has thrown 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and recorded a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings during September, and the A's are confident that magic -- not to mention their tight-knit lineup -- will win the day.
The A's also can find some comfort in their history against Luis Severino, the ace the Yankees will trot out to the mound. Severino went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 32 starts this season, but he struggled against Oakland's bats, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs in 8 2/3 innings over two starts.
It will be an interesting matchup fraught with storylines, so here's how to watch A's-Yankees live on TV and online, along with information about NBC Sports Bay Area/California pregame and postgame coverage.
When: 5:08 p.m. PT/8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 3
TV: TBS
Live Stream: fuboTV -- Try a free trial
Sports
Watch A's playoff coverage Wednesday on NBC Sports Bay Area/California
4:30 p.m.: A's Pre-Game Show on NBC Sports California
8 p.m.: A's Post-Game Show on NBC Sports California
10 p.m.: The Happy Hour on NBC Sports Bay Area
