Five players & five plotlines
Kendal Graveman
Graveman, 27, is not only the A’s No. 1 starting pitcher, he is tasked with setting the tone as the unquestioned leader of one of the youngest starting rotations in baseball. To add even more pressure, Graveman is coming off a season that was filled with shoulder issues, limiting him to just 19 starts. Though he’s looked good in spring training, showing high velocity with a fastball reaching the mid-90s and good movement on his off-speed stuff, Graveman will need to be a workhorse for a young rotation that contains three question marks. Graveman seems to have the leadership part down, noticeably more vocal in the clubhouse and often calling early morning pitcher meetings throughout the spring. Next is how he performs on the mound. If Graveman does not have a good year, this season could turn out to be a disaster in Oakland.
Matt Chapman
Speaking of pressure, how about getting Gold Glove-caliber defense and 30-plus home run projections placed upon you before your first full season in the majors? That’s how highly the A’s think of Chapman, the third baseman who is expected to be a cornerstone of the franchise.
Blake Treinen
Treinen cemented his role as closer with an impressive final month last season that saw him convert 11 consecutive save opportunities. For a club that blew the second most saves in baseball last year, Treinen will need to bring stability in the ninth inning.
Sean Manaea
While Graveman bears most of the responsibility in the rotation, the A’s are also counting heavily on Manaea. Locked into the No. 2 spot, he is expected to pitch deep into games on a consistent basis with uncertainty surrounding the last three spots on the staff.
Matt Olson
Olson joins the other Matt (Chapman) as players expected to lead these young A’s as a franchise-changer. He certainly earned that honor with a 2017 that saw him crush 24 home runs in 189 atbats. But, as is often the case with young hitters who find success early on, you can bet pitchers are already studying film on him as they look to make adjustments.