Smith to get 1st start at 36
SEATTLE — At the age of 36, Chris Smith will get a spot start Saturday — and in doing so will become the oldest A’s pitcher ever to make his first big-league start.
Smith has made 63 big-league appearances as a reliever, including 13 with Oakland last season, but he has not started a game in the majors. The oldest A’s pitcher to make his first big-league start was Joe Pate on May 6, 1926, against the St. Louis Browns, at 33 years, 334 days, according to A’s baseball-information manager Mike Selleck.
“He made a big impression on us last year,” manager Bob Melvin said of Smith. “He’s got a smile on his face every day whether he’s in A-ball or the big leagues. He got some time and was effective for us last year, but to be able to get a start, I know he’s going to be really excited about that, as are we.”
Smith is 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA at Triple-A Nashville. “Chris doesn’t have mind-blowing stuff, but he executes better than most,” catcher Bruce Maxwell said. “He’s hard-nosed. It’s a joy to catch him, and I’m looking forward to his start.”
Infielder Franklin Barreto, who’d been expected to be demoted Thursday when Marcus Semien came off the DL, will be sent down Saturday.
Cotton to DL: Jharel Cotton became the seventh A’s starter to land on the disabled list — the entire regular rotation has been on the DL at one point or another — but the rookie will miss probably just one start as he deals with a split callus. Melvin said Cotton is expected to be able to pitch one of the first five games after the All-Star break.
“But who knows?” Melvin added. “We thought we were out of the woods with him before, but it was the next day his callus got split open.”
The A’s have used the DL 20 times this year after a team-record 27 uses last year. Injury updates: Chris Bassitt (Tommy John surgery) worked an inning with Class A Stockton on Thursday, throwing 11 pitches, eight strikes, and striking out two, including Mike Trout . ... Opening Night starter Kendall Graveman (shoulder) was scheduled to throw two sets of 20 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday in Arizona . ... Reliever Ryan Dull, who is returning from a right knee strain, will throw live batting practice Friday in Arizona . ... Infielder Chad Pinder (hamstring) is hitting in the cage and is also doing some running . ... Starter Andrew Triggs was placed on the 60-day DL; he might require surgery to repair his torn hip labrum.