Bumgarner, Bassitt square off in A’s-Giants rivalry series opener

Chris Bassitt and the host Oakland Athletics will be seeking revenge on San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner when the geographic rivals meet again in a two-game series that begins Saturday night. As part of the weekend rivalry scheduling offered by Major League Baseball this season, both teams had Friday off in the wake of a sweep, the A's having taken three straight at home from the New York Yankees, while the Giants dropped three in a row on the road against the Chicago Cubs as part of a four-game slide. Bumgarner (8-8, 3.72 ERA) pitched the opener of a two-game series against the A's in San Francisco on Aug. 13 and got the win in a 3-2 victory.