Question for Melvin: Who’s batting third?
MESA, ARIZ. >> A’s manager Bob Melvin will have a bit more thinking to do with his lineups this year.
Melvin’s lineup was pretty much set late last season as the A’s made a playoff run that led to a wild-card appearance. The major change by the end of the campaign came in the leadoff spot with Nick Martini against right-handed pitchers and Ramón Laureano against lefties.
That won’t be the case in 2019 partially because of the departure of Jed Lowrie, whose absence has opened the No. 3 spot in the lineup. The roster change
means Melvin will test multiple players throughout spring training to find the right candidate.
First up is Stephen Piscotty for the team’s Cactus League opener today against the Seattle Mariners. Besides Piscotty, Khris Davis and Matt Olson are other possibilities to bat third.
“We can mix it up a little bit depending on the pitcher,” Melvin said. “You look at Stephen’s numbers last year and he’s certainly an option for it. We also
want to make sure we’re protecting some other guys. It’s kind of a balance.”
Third baseman Matt Chapman is another option. But after going on a tear through the second half of last season primarily batting second, it would be tough for Melvin to move the Gold Glove player anywhere else in the order.
“I like him second based on what he accomplished last year,” Melvin said. “He may be a guy we look at in the three-hole as well. But he looked awfully comfortable in the two-spot once we put him there.”
New free agent outfielder Robbie Grossman will lead off for the spring opener. Given his .367 on-base percentage with the Minnesota Twins last season, Grossman figures to get plenty of time leading off.
“It’s one of the reasons we picked him up,” Melvin said of Grossman’s ability to get on base. “He’s a switch-hitter, so he’ll probably get some time there and we’ll break him in quickly. I talked to him about it and he’s comfortable in the leadoff spot.”
Today’s starting lineup was posted in the A’s clubhouse before Wednesday’s team workouts: Robbie Grossman LF, Marcus Semien SS, Stephen Piscotty RF, Matt Olson 1B, Mark Canha DH, Jurickson Profar 2B, Chad Pinder 3B, Josh Phegley C, Dustin Fowler CF.
Paul Blackburn is scheduled to start in the first look at the battle for the final starting rotation spot. Frankie Montas, a contender to win the role, is scheduled to enter the game at some point after Blackburn.
But there is a strong chance the A’s won’t play today. Heavy rain has been forecast for the 12:05 p.m.
game, though the A’s remain hopeful they can play. Melvin said his staff might put Blackburn and Montas through simulated games in the case of a rainout.
Daniel Mengden and top prospect Jesus Luzardo are the two starting pitchers set to throw in Friday’s road game against the Mariners.
Luzardo, 21, has spent the early part of spring impressing teammates who had the chance to face him in batting practice.
A’s coaches are making sure Luzardo does not make too much out of one game as the hard-throwing lefty tries to impress management with a potential Opening Day rotation spot on the line,
“I think when you’re young and excited you want to show immediately what you can do,” pitching coach Scott Emerson said. “Those are some of the things I need to be smart with and say, ‘Hey, you’re not going to make the team throwing
batting practice.’ It’s about big-picture thinking, where we are with him in October.
“Don’t come out of the gates too fast and know that our first game is just that. We need you ready for the first game of the regular season. He’s already impressed us.”
• The A’s appear to have avoided an early scare with new reliever Joakim Soria. After he was kept out of activity Tuesday because of right hip tendonitis, Soria arrived at A’s camp Wednesday free of any discomfort.
“He had an amazing recovery,” Melvin said. “The day before he was feeling it pretty good. Yesterday he came out and felt a lot better. He played catch and he’ll probably get back on the mound here pretty quick.”
• Chapman missed Wednesday’s team workouts after feeling ill but is expected to return today. The A’s still do not have a set timetable on his Cactus League debut.