Bassitt will get first look of A’s rotation in action

MESA, ARIZ. >> The A’s next stop this spring was to Sloan Park on Tuesday to play their Mesa neighbors, the Chicago Cubs.

The A’s maintained the lead throughout until a Cubs walkoff grand slam off Nik Turley handed them a seven-inning 9-8 loss.

Here are some takeaways from the Tuesday.

CAN WE GUESS THE OPENING DAY ROTATION? >> Chris Bassitt will start today’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers with Jesús Luzardo, Daulton Jefferies and Sean Manaea to follow in ensuing days as the A’s venture into the rotation’s first turn, manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday morning. This looks like the framework for a starting rotation for the regular season — with a few considerations.

Jefferies has had a nice spring, with three scoreless innings over two outings with four strikeouts. But his third go-around as a starter is to keep that spot in the rotation warm for Frankie Montas as the right-hander rebounds from COVID-19, and a late arrival. Expect Jefferies to start the year with Triple-A Las Vegas, but he is viable depth as a spot starter or long reliever.

“It’s more about Montas, he’s pitched well and he deserves to get another look,” Melvin said of Jefferies. “But it’s more kind of because of the Montas situation and certainly AJ (Puk) is not there either.

So, how is this for a rotation: Bassitt, Opening Day starter; Luzardo; Montas; Manaea; Mike Fiers/A.J. Puk.

That fifth spot in the rotation is up for grabs between Fiers and Puk and will depend primarily on how Puk progresses

from shoulder surgery. The A’ want to build up Puk as a starter, but there’s no promise he’ll start the season in the rotation. Where he’ll squeeze in remains to be seen.

Puk and Montas threw two innings in a simulated game on Tuesday. Puk is expected to throw again on the 13th and, if all goes well, will pitch in games sometime next week.

A LOWRIE SIGHTING >> Jed Lowrie has officially returned to the field in green and gold, starting at second base Tuesday for his

first game action since he played a handful of games with the New York Mets in 2019.

“Haven’t been that excited on a baseball field in a while,” said Lowrie, who underwent offseason knee surgery. “Just happy I didn’t pass out, quite frankly.”

Lowrie said he felt good at the plate, adding he thought he was seeing the ball well and his body felt good. He would have had a hit in his second and final at bat into shallow left field, but the Cubs were in a shift.

“I got jammed up on the first one but I was happy with the swing,” Lowrie said.

He looked a tad slow at second base, reacting a little late on a sharp ground ball hit for a single in the first inning off Cole Irvin.

“I’m happy with the way the day went and hopefully I can build off this,” Lowrie said, saying the at-bats he had in the back fields helped him get his feel back.

Melvin said the plan was to hold Lowrie to two atbats, and he’ll get extended little-by-little from now on. IRVIN LOOKS TO ADD DEPTH >> Even though the A’s pitching staff is overflowing, the organization values depth. Cole Irvin came to the A’s with not-so-pretty big league experience under his belt — a 17.18 ERA with the Philadelphia Phillies — but has looked sharp in his two spring starts. Tuesday he had four strikeouts in three innings with one run allowed.

“He’s got a good sinker, good changeup,” Melvin said.