Oakland Athletics

While pressing issues were addressed in camp, the A’s left one big one unanswered: naming a closer. The A’s have a solid cast in left-handers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle and righties Santiago Casilla and John Axford. But manager Bob Mel-

vin is leaning toward manipulating matchups. “We’ll play it by ear,” he said. Madson led the A’s with 30 saves last year, but all seven of his blown saves came against AL West rivals, and he posted a 5.73 ERA vs. those teams compared to a 1.42 ERA outside the division. Seven of Oakland’s first eight series are against divisional foes.

Right- hander Sonny Gray resumed throwing after being waylaid by a strained back muscle early in camp. The A’s are being cautious with Gray because he battled injuries for most of last year. Gray likely will start twice this month in the minors before returning in May.

The team’s home stadium has gone through numerous name changes, and this season the A’s will play on Rickey Henderson Field for the first time. The field was christened on opening day in a tribute to the former A’s great.