Elephant Rumblings: A’s starters strong in early preseason contests

MLB news roundup

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Spring Training is well underway, and the A’s are looking pretty strong so far with two wins to one loss and a tie. Yesterday’s game was a bona fide slugfest, with eight doubles from A’s batters. Be sure to check out the recap from JToster right here on AN.

The A’s have been using their rotation arms—or potential starters—through the first two innings of these Cactus League games so far with good results. The one exception was J.T. Ginn, who got knocked out of the game after 1⅔ innings in the A’s preseason opener last Saturday. Ginn got blasted for five hits and as many runs in his first audition of the spring, so he has much left to prove in order to contend for the fifth spot in the A’s rotation.

The remaining starters got off to a much better start: Jeffrey Springs, Osvaldo Bido, and JP Sears all delivered on two scoreless innings in their respective appearances. Much thanks to Bill Moriarty at Athletics Farm for compiling these stats and making them easily accessible on X:

• LHP Springs (Sunday): 2 IP/2 H/0 ER/0 BB/2 K
• RHP Bido (Monday): 2 IP/1 H/0 ER/1 BB/4 K
• LHP J.Sears (Tuesday): 2 IP/0 H/0 ER/0 BB/3 K

Sears gets top marks with two perfect innings and three strikeouts, but these are all laudable performances. Sears and Springs seem to be locks for the Opening Day rotation, and Bido seems likely to make the cut as well.

Hogan Harris has also been discussed as a potential starter this spring, but he pitched two innings in relief on Monday. Could this imply that Harris is more likely to stay in the bullpen? It could mean nothing, but Harris was true to form in issuing three walks in his first spring appearance and that won’t help him make the rotation.

Mitch Spence and Joey Estes are also in the rotation conversation but have yet to make their spring debuts. Spence is scheduled to start today’s game against Seattle, while likely Opening Day starter Luis Severino is probable for Thursday. If Estes pitches in either game it will likely be in relief. Obviously, the starter-reliever distinction means less with the two inning limits we’re seeing right now.

Thus, so far the better established starters are looking good out of the gate, while hopefuls Ginn and Harris have shown some weakness. I think Spence or Estes are more likely to get the fifth Opening Day rotation spot, and they will have opportunities to move further ahead when they make their first appearances of the spring. But there is plenty of Spring Training left for Harris and Ginn to make up ground.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s mash 8 doubles in 7-5 victory over Giants
• A’s No. 2 prospect gets his first ‘Wow’ moment of big league camp
• Why A’s Lawrence Butler is poised to shed anonymity: ‘I feel like I’m a star’ ($)

MLB News & Interest:

• Max Scherzer opines on robot umps after first Blue Jays start: ‘Can we just be judged by humans?’ ($)
• Ostriches, butt cheeks and relentless energy: How Austin Hedges became an indispensable MLB teammate ($)
• MLB All-Under-25 Team: Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Paul Skenes and more ($)
• The Long-Term Catching Trade Market
• Nationals To Re-Sign Kyle Finnegan
• Facing My Heroes: The Day I Struck Out Ichiro Suzuki Twice
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Gelof gearing up to man second.

A key part of the 70s dynasty gets his due.