Programming note: Angels-A’s coverage starts tonight at 5:30 p.m. with A’s Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet California
OAKLAND – It appears the A’s have plans to rework their starting rotation once again to set up their top four starters to pitch next weekend’s series in Anaheim.
The team listed its pitching probables for its three-game series at Houston that begins Monday, and Wednesday’s starter is listed as “TBA.” That would be Sonny Gray’s normal turn to start, but it’s very possible the A’s will push him back one day to start Thursday’s opener of a four-game series against the first-place Angels down south.
That would set up Gray, Jon Lester, Scott Kazmir and Jeff Samardzija to start those four games. The A’s would then have to find someone to start Wednesday’s game against the Astros. Long reliever Jesse Chavez would be a natural candidate given he’s made 21 starts this season, and he could probably give the A’s decent length in a spot start. However, the A’s would have to decide whether he might be more valuable as a long relief option against the Angels.
There’s also left-hander Drew Pomeranz at Triple-A Sacramento. He’s been solid in eight starts with the River Cats, going 3-1 with a 3.69 ERA, but he did get touched for six runs against Memphis in his last start.
Samardzija and Jason Hammel are scheduled to start Monday and Tuesday at Houston.
