The A’s will call up right-hander Daniel Mengden to start Saturday against the Reds in his major league debut.
The 23-year-old Mengden, who has posted a sterling 1.19 ERA combined between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Nashville, joined the A’s in Cincinnati on Friday, but they have yet to officially add him to their roster.
The A’s had a hole to fill in their rotation with Rich Hill joining the disabled list Thursday, and they still have yet to name a starter for Tuesday. For now, Sonny Gray goes tonight at Cincinnati, Mengden on SAturday, Kendall Graveman will pitch Sunday and Sean Manaea in Monday’s homestand opener against the Rangers.
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Mengden came over from Houston in the Scott Kazmir trade last July, and though catcher Jacob Nottingham was the more celebrated of the two players in that deal to come to Oakland, Mengden has shot up the ladder in the A’s farm system with his impressive 2016 season so far. He is 5-1 with a 1.19 ERA combined in 11 minor league starts this season. With a handlebar mustache and an unorthodox delivery featuring a pause at the top of his windup, Mengden draws attention even beyond the numbers.
He features a fastball that touches 95 miles per hour with good late movement plus a good slider.
