When A’s pitcher Sean Manaea spoke with reporters in a video conference Tuesday, he sported a "Respect Oakland" shirt and wanted to make sure reporters saw it.
Hours before the A's began a three-game series with the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, Manaea said the matchup is one fans need to get used to.
“After this series, the next time we see them might be in the World Series,” Manaea said.
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Manaea, who’s scheduled to start on Wednesday, knows beating the Dodgers (38-16) will not be easy -- whether in the regular season or playoffs. But the A's (33-20) could have extra confidence in this series after officially clinching the AL West thanks to the Houston Astros' loss Monday.
“[They’re] a very good team, so it’ll be a nice game right before the playoffs, just to see where I’m at,” Manaea said of his start. “They’re still a very, very good ball club, so it’ll be fun to play against these guys."
RELATED: How A's celebrated clinching AL West spot
The A's don't have to worry about a winner-take-all AL Wild Card Game this year, but there's a long way to go before they could play the Dodgers. The playoffs are expanded this year, and Oakland would need to win a best-of-three Wild Card round, then a best-of-five Division Series and a best-of-seven League Championship Series in order to reach the Fall Classic for the first time since 1990.
Oakland Athletics
Manaea feels the A's are more than ready. The trying season speaks for itself.
“This isn’t an easy feat, and to do it how we’ve done it," Manaea said. "The boys just grinded it out and the steady improvements over time, it’s been amazing to watch and just so happy to be a part of this ball club and to be here. It’s crazy."