The Athletics announced the 28-man roster for their Wild Card Series with the White Sox, beginning today in Oakland. Jesus Luzardo will start Game 1 and Chris Bassitt is slated for Game 2. No starter has been named for a potential Game 3, though it’s safe to assume that it will be an all-hands-on-deck situation if the A’s make it to the deciding games.
With that in mind, Sean Manaea is probably the likeliest candidate to start a Game 3, making is less likely that the southpaw would appear out of the bullpen in either of the first two games. Of the other starters on the Athletics’ roster, Frankie Montas, Mike Minor, or Mike Fiers could all see bullpen duty, adding to Oakland’s already-deep relief mix. As reported yesterday, righty J.B. Wendelken is also back from a brief trip to the injured list, representing yet another relief option for manager Bob Melvin.
Chad Pinder was activated from the injured list on Sunday, and the utilityman is in the Game 1 lineup as the designated hitter.
Left-Handed Pitchers
- Jesus Luzardo
- Sean Manaea
- Mike Minor
- Jake Diekman
- T.J. McFarland
Right-Handed Pitchers
- Chris Bassitt
- Mike Fiers
- Frankie Montas
- Liam Hendriks
- Yusmeiro Petit
- Joakim Soria
- Lou Trivino
- J.B. Wendelken
Infielders
Outfielders
Catchers
Would have been nice if Chapman was healthy. It hurts not having your clean up hitter out without his gold glove defense.
Why did Nate Orf make the Roster with Chad Pinder coming back off the Injured List? No reason to keep both Orf and Machin on the roster as they duplicates and non-threats with the Bat. A 3rd Catcher like Austin Allen would have been a better choice or another Lefty-hitting outfielder like Seth Brown.
Can’t forget the mistake when the A’s went with 1 healthy catcher in the wild card game. Soto went down and Norris who should have been on the DL was behind the plate. KC ran wild on A’s knowing Norris couldn’t make a throw to second if his life depended on it.
The Sox offense has been dreadful to close the season but left-handed pitching usually wakes them up. Oakland’s all left-handed decision with starters is interesting but if Chicago’s bats don’t wake up I guess it won’t matter.
chris bassitt is not left handed
why are they so enamoured with this Machin experiment?
Have to assume it is because he’s a LH hitter who can play literally anywhere on the field (even started a game behind the plate in the minors last season)
4 walks (just 1 K) in 11 PA against LHP this year too, good enough for a .455 OBP. He can’t hit, but if you need a guy on against a LH late in the game, he wouldnt be the worst guy to try