Jefferies’ command keeps Rockies quiet

MESA, Ariz. — In one of his final spring auditions, Daulton Jefferies made his strongest bid yet to begin the season in the A’s rotation.

Mike Fiers’ ailing hip has opened the fifth starter discussion and Jefferies, the 2016 firstround pick out of Cal, is on the short list. Tuesday, he worked four scoreless innings against a Rockies lineup stacked with lefthanders and regulars, bolstering his case for a majorleague role.

“Fantastic,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Best we’ve seen him probably. Mixed his pitches in very well, had a good change, had a good curveball. … The command was terrific.”

Jefferies faced 14 batters in a 41 A’s win and struck out seven. He allowed two hits, including a leadoff triple by Josh Fuentes in the second inning. He struck out the next three, all lefthanded hitters, all looking.

“That was huge for my confidence,” Jefferies said. “Maybe some guys tense up a little bit (in that situation) and I’ve done that in the past. That was a big maturity move I tried to make going into this spring where I can just breathe and check out a focal point in the stadium or something and just kind of hone in on executing pitches.”

In 13 innings this spring, Jefferies has allowed seven hits and has struck out 20. Command is his forte, evidenced by his 93 strikeouts and nine walks in 79 minorleague innings in 2019. It eluded him in one difficult start with the A’s last year, but he has walked just three of 51 batters this spring.

Lefthanders A.J. Puk and Cole Irvin appear to be the other candidates to fill in for Fiers. Puk has not exceeded two innings in a game this spring. Irvin has pitched well, with two runs allowed in 12 innings. He and Jefferies could fit either of two needs — fifth starter or a long reliever — early in the season. Melvin said “nothing has been decided.”

“I can only control what I can control,” Jefferies said. “I can’t make any decisions but I can be as consistent as possible and just be a guy where they know what they’re going to get when I take the rubber. I think that was the goal going into camp and going into the season.”

⏩ Center fielder Ramón Laureano was 1for3 with a double in his first game since March 13, an absence created by a side muscle injury he felt while taking batting practice. Laureano said he felt “better than I expected . ... If Opening Day was today against Zack Greinke, I would play.”

⏩ Closer Trevor Rosenthal pitched a scoreless inning in his second appearance of the spring. He threw 10 pitches, six fastballs from 94to97 mph, and recorded one strikeout.

⏩ Right fielder Stephen Piscotty was hitless in three atbats returning from a short layoff due to left wrist soreness and is 3for23 in Cactus League play. “I think the wrist was bothering him a little bit — just another guy that maybe hasn’t hit his stride yet,” Melvin said.

⏩ Sergio Romo, who last pitched March 16, was away from the team for the birth of his baby and is expected back Wednesday.