Brandon

Allen

Allen got off to a roaring start with the A’s but has stumbled down the stretch, batting .132 with 42 strikeouts in his past 25 games. A’s manager Bob Melvin said there are some specific things he’d like to see Allen work on at the plate, but he’s yet to speak to the first baseman about them. Allen will enter spring training as the favorite for the first base job next year.

Allen is out of options, so he’ll join the big-league roster. It’s a poor landing spot from a fantasy perspective, as the Rays already have a left-handed first baseman who struggles against southpaws in Carlos Pena. Allen will also be unable to platoon with the lefty hitting Luke Scott at designated hitter. He could still make the occasional start at DH, though, and should see time in the outfield. It’s unlikely he’ll take the field enough to be an option outside of exceptionally deep AL-only leagues, however.

Brandon Allen was claimed off waivers from the A’s on Thursday and B.J. Upton (back) is expected to return from the disabled list Friday, so the Rays need to make a pair of moves. Brignac is just 2-for-17 (.118) so far this season while Vogt is hitless in 13 at-bats.

Upton has been in the Tampa Bay starting lineup for every game since returning from his back injury, and this was simply a scheduled day of rest. He’s available to pinch-hit, and will be back in his usual role on Sunday. Brandon Allen gets the start in left field in his place.

Jennings is just getting the night off. Brandon Allen will make the start in left field and bat sixth against King Felix.

A pinch-hit blast, nonetheless. Allen hasn’t seen a whole lot of playing time since being claimed off waivers from the A’s on April 19, but that may change after Thursday’s heroics. The 26-year-old first baseman has a .722 OPS on the year.

Allen looked like the odd-man out after all of Oakland’s late-winter additions, but he could yet win a job with a strong spring. He has plenty of power, so if he can hit just .240, he’d likely be a modest asset as a first baseman or DH.

The RBI was Allen’s 13th of spring. He has put together a very favorable .303/.359/.576 batting line.

Allen has dealt with the issue for a couple weeks now and it tightened up on him while he was running to second base during Wednesday’s game. The injury means that Brandon Guyer will stick around a little longer than originally expected.

He was cleared to make room for Daric Barton’s return from the disabled list. Allen got the nod at first base on Opening Day, but he gets the boot after going 0-for-7 with five strikeouts to begin the season. The 26-year-old owns a lousy .205/.291/.375 batting line to go along with 133 strikeouts over 374 plate appearances in the big leagues, but someone could take a chance on his power potential.