Pitchers step up to plate

BOSTON — The A’s don’t have a star batter hidden amongst their starting pitchers, but Brett Anderson is quick to remind a reporter that he did record a hit last season.

“And you don’t have to act like it’s that big a surprise,” he said in mock indignation.

It’s that time of year again: Oakland’s starters will take some hacks, probably a few ugly ones, during the threegame series that opens at Pittsburgh on Friday. Anderson, Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas have been lugging around bats the past week or two, getting in some practice, and they are greeted with some skepticism by hitters and jokes from fellow pitchers.

They’re all pretty realistic about their talents or lack thereof. Montas, the Sunday starter, is 0-for-5 lifetime — with five strikeouts.

“I don’t think I can hit,” Montas said. “Hopefully, if it’s a bunt situation, I can get it right. We’ll see if I can make contact.”

The bullpen is offering incentives. Yusmeiro Petit told Montas he’ll give him $500 if he hits it out of the infield, and $3,000 if he homers.

“I told him, ‘Hey, if the third-base coach tells me to bunt, I’m going to offer him $500 to let me swing away. I’ll give BoMel $500, too,’ ” Montas said of manager Bob Melvin. “We all win!”

Anderson, who’s starting Friday, is typically happy to mock his lack of athletic ability, and he suggested that even drawing a walk would come with its perils.

“My biggest fear, maybe in life, is baserunning,” Anderson said. “I haven’t slid since my junior year of high school. I’d have to think about sliding maybe 40 feet in advance. Trying to score from second on a single is like my nightmare scenario.”

Anderson actually has eight career hits — including three doubles — and he has drawn six walks. Bassitt, who starts Saturday, is 0-for-2 lifetime with a strikeout. Like Anderson, Bassitt has spent too much time rehabbing from injuries to be enthusiastic about an activity he hasn’t done regularly since high school.

“Obviously, I’m not going to be comfortable at all,” Bassitt said. “I feel like with all I’ve been through, just don’t do something stupid and get hurt. We’re not used to doing this. I just want to be able to get a bunt down and that’s fine.”