Oakland has options for rotation
MESA, Ariz. — Mike Fiers is playing catch again, but his readiness to begin the season in the A’s rotation is in question. A.J. Puk is pitching in games again, but the A’s have not declared him the firm choice if they need to replace Fiers.
Others are striving to complicate that decision. On Wednesday, Daulton Jefferies struck out six batters in three innings against the Royals. On Friday, Cole Irvin pitched the last four innings of a Cactus League loss to the Cubs. He allowed two singles and no runs.
Asked afterward about Irvin, manager Bob Melvin noted that depending on Fiers’ status, the fifth starter job is “still kind of up for grabs at this point.”
“He’s still competing,” Melvin said of Irvin. “Even though he’s not pitching in a starting role right now, he’s still competing for that.”
Fiers must ramp back up from hip inflammation, and Melvin has said it’s a “long shot” he opens the season in the rotation. Puk has appeared in one Cactus League game, pitching two innings, though Melvin said there is time to prepare Puk to start if needed.
Jefferies and Irvin, meanwhile, continue to be groomed as starters. That could fit yet another need. Melvin said the A’s likely will carry at least one longrelief option early in the season before starters are fully prepared. Lou Trivino and Burch Smith are options already in the bullpen, but a starter also could fill that length role.
“Who that is and how we deploy it, we’ll see,” Melvin said. “I do feel like, especially to start the season, depending where our starters are, we are going to need a guy or two that’s going to be able to give you two or potentially three innings.”
Irvin, acquired by trade from the Phillies, leads the A’s in Cactus League innings. He has thrown 12, allowing nine hits and two earned runs for a 1.50 ERA.
“Whether it’s length, whether it’s starting, he’s had a good showing for us,” Melvin said.
⏩ Frankie Montas, who holds a rotation spot, pitched three innings Friday and allowed two runs on a Willson Contreras homer and Anthony Rizzo’s double after a walk to Ian Happ. Montas said he was happy with his fastball and splitter and that he feels “close to seasonready. … I feel like my arm was still strong the last pitch in the last inning, and I was able to use all of my pitches.”
⏩ Right fielder Stephen Piscotty was scratched from the lineup with a sore left wrist and received a cortisone shot. Melvin termed it “tendinitis to an extent” and said the hope is Piscotty can play after Sunday’s
offday.
⏩ Melvin has been impressed this spring by infield prospect Edwin Diaz, a 15thround A’s pick in 2013 who reached TripleA in 2019. “His glove was probably way ahead of his bat … and now his bat seems to be catching up,” Melvin said.