With Bassitt on roll, staff looks strong

‘No weak link’ seen, so extra rest in store

With two off days next week, the A’s could tinker with their rotation if they so desired. They don’t desire.

Manager Bob Melvin said Friday afternoon that at this point in the season, the “prudent thing to do is give guys an extra rest. There’s no weak link at this point. All of ’em are pitching pretty well.”

Count Chris Bassitt solidly among all of them. The 30yearold righthander held the White Sox, his former team, to four hits in seven innings in a 20 win in Chicago on Sunday.

In his past three starts, Bassitt (85) has given up two runs over 19 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.56.

“You go through dips and valleys basically throughout the year,” Bassitt said. “I think in the last month, I’ve felt pretty physically strong.”

Getting to solid health has been a process for Bassitt since he underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2016. He did not pitch in the majors in 2017.

Bassitt said that during that 201617 stretch, there were times he thought these good times in 2019 might not happen.

“My velo wasn’t coming back. I wouldn’t feel healthy. My arm didn’t feel good,” Bassitt said. “Yeah, there were a lot of times where, unfortunately, (I) went through that.”

Because Tommy John surgery has become so common throughout baseball, Bassitt was able to get guidance from other pitchers who’d been through it. He mentioned A’s starter Brett Anderson and former Oakland reliever Ryan Madson among those pitchers whose advice helped him navigate the rehab process.

Bassitt split time between TripleA Nashville and Oakland last season.

“I felt pretty dang good last year,” Bassitt said, “but it still just wasn’t the same and then about midway through, I was like, ‘I’m not even thinking about Tommy John anymore.’ It was, obviously, a big sigh of relief and then, so far, so good.”

Bassitt had seven stints with the big club in 2018.

“He’s pretty stubborn on the mound as far as he trusts himself and he believes in himself no matter what,” said catcher Josh Phegley, who came to Oakland from the White Sox in the December 2014 trade that put Bassitt in green and gold. “I think he’s getting this extended look this year and guys are finally buying into his stuff, and he’s proven that it plays.

“He’s known it all along, and he just needed other people to believe in it.”

Said Melvin of Bassitt: “He’s just pitching with a lot of confidence. He’s kind of morphed into where he is right now. It’s exciting to see because the talent’s always been there for him.”

Bassitt will start Saturday afternoon against the firstplace Astros, who came into Friday with the majors’ secondbest batting average (.275) and fourthmost home runs (209).

“I think every pitch just has a little bit more focus on it just because 1 through 9, they can really hurt you,” Bassitt said. “If you have a little lapse of two, three pitches, that could be the game.

“Pretty much, you have 100 pitches — and you can’t really let one go.” Catching moves: The A’s activated Phegley from the injured list and catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment.

Phegley hadn’t played in a majorleague game since July 28 because of an injured left thumb.

The Blue Jays claimed catcher Beau Taylor off waivers. He had been designated for assignment by the A’s on Wednesday.