MESA, Ariz. – A’s manager Bob Melvin announced his positional lineup for Thursday’s exhibition opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
It will be as follows:
1) Bruce Maxwell, C
2) Yonder Alonso, 1B
3) Chris Coghlan, 2B
4) Marcus Semien SS
5) Max Muncy 3B
6) Khris Davis DH
7) Andrew Lambo LF
8) Billy Burns CF
9) Sam Fuld RF
Eric Surkamp, LHP
Some of the regulars are being held out until Friday’s split-squad games. The A’s host the Colorado Rockies in Mesa that day and travel to play the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On the injury front, Melvin said first baseman Mark Canha will miss the first few exhibitions while receiving treatment for his sore back. Though catcher Josh Phegley (sore right shoulder) is taking at-bats in Wednesday’s brief intrasquad game, the earliest he will get in an exhibition is Saturday, according to Melvin.
Stephen Vogt continues to recover well from elbow surgery. His timetable to play in games is mid-March, and if that gets moved up any earlier, Melvin said Vogt would be serving as a DH and not getting behind the plate.
