Thanks to injuries, A’s facing questions in 2 rotation spots
MESA, Ariz. — After six weeks in Arizona, the A’s broke camp Monday bound for Oakland with their Opening Night roster mostly set and healthy.
Ironically, the rotation — an area of continuity entering spring — houses the remaining uncertainty. The A’s haven’t declared a replacement for injured Mike Fiers and are waiting to see whether a torn cuticle on Frankie Montas’ pitching hand could hamper the righthander’s ability to make his first scheduled start.
A.J. Puk, Cole Irvin and Daulton Jefferies are options to replace Fiers — or spell Montas, if that becomes necessary. Montas will pitch in a simulated game Wednesday when the A’s work out at the Coliseum ahead of Thursday’s opener against the Astros. Chris Bassitt and Jesús Luzardo will start the first two games against Houston; the rest of the order, including what day Sean Manaea will pitch, isn’t set.
“I think everyone’s pretty psyched up,” Manaea said after Monday’s spring finale. “Thursday’s going to come here pretty quick. I think we’re all itching for that and feel like we’re in a really good spot.”
Other roster issues gained resolution in camp. Jed Lowrie will begin the season as the A’s primary second baseman after two injurymarred years with the Mets. Aramis Garcia seized the backup catcher role. A run of reliever additions in February fortified a bullpen that had looked thin. Mark Canha emerged in the leadoff spot; he was among a few regulars with low Cactus League numbers that are now moot.
“I think you see some guys kind of hitting their strides toward the end of spring,” manager Bob Melvin said, “which is what you’re kind of hoping for.”
Perhaps the most encouraging spring narratives for the A’s involved their infield cornerstones. Matt Chapman, returning from hip surgery, showed no lingering effects and played his typical strong, athletic defense at third base. First baseman Matt Olson, whose hitting numbers dipped last year, was the A’s hottest hitter for most of spring, citing swing adjustments he made over the winter.
A return to form by both is key for the A’s, who weathered their 2020 struggles to claim the AL West in a pandemicaltered 60game schedule. Oakland built a cushion with its fast start last summer. A full 162game season should reward more consistency.
The A’s believe their lineup is deep. Lowrie’s switchhitting and the signing of designated hitter Mitch Moreland offer lefthanded presence against righthanded starting pitchers. Elvis Andrus will play shortstop full time, with Chad Pinder a backup option if he falters.
Andrus, Canha, Ramón Laureano and Stephen Piscotty could all boost the lineup by rebounding from 2020 production that fell below their career norms. Despite Andrus’ stated goal to help the A’s steal more bases, it’s unlikely his arrival will make them a running team.
“We are probably a little more suited to making a pitcher work, taking some walks, hitting some homers from time to time,” Melvin said. “That’s kind of the way we’ve done it in the past. I don’t think it changes dramatically.”
The bullpen is resettled after an offseason of turnover. New closer Trevor Rosenthal appeared sparingly in spring games, but inched his velocity up to 98 mph in his last outing. Setup man Jake Diekman did not allow a run in six spring outings after allowing one all of last season. Additions Sergio Romo and Adam Kolarek join holdovers Yusmeiro Petit, J.B. Wendelken, Lou Trivino and Burch Smith, all contributors to the A’s leading the majors in reliever ERA in 2020.
Fiers’ inflamed hip caused the lone extended Arizona injury absence among A’s regulars. He could rejoin the rotation in April, Melvin said. Catcher Sean Murphy showed no ill effect returning from offseason surgery for a collapsed lung, and Rule 5 outfielder Ka’ai Tom seized a bench spot after an oblique injury delayed his spring debut.
Montas joined camp a few days late due to a bout with the coronavirus before spring training, but the A’s otherwise reported no virusrelated issues during a camp conducted under safety measures including staggered workouts and limits on players in camp and fans at games.