Washed-out game creates pitching questions for A’s
Friday night’s game was postponed half an hour before the scheduled start time, so the A’s and Orioles will play a split day-night double header on Saturday.
Eric Surkamp, who pitched reasonably well in a fill-in role early in the season, is likely to be recalled and he could potentially start any of the games against the Red Sox because he last started on Wednesday.
Dillon Overton, who was Triple-A Nashville’s starter on Friday, also would merit some consideration after a strong start to the season; he is not on the 40-man roster but the A’s could place Chris Bassitt on the 60-day DL after Bassitt’s Tommy John surgery Friday.
Wendelken, obtained in the Brett Lawrie deal with the White Sox this winter, has mostly pitched well but Thursday allowed four hits and three runs in one inning of work and opponents are batting .311 against him.
Nashville’s best reliever has been left-hander Daniel Coulombe, who has allowed only one run in 12 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .108 average; he isn’t on the 40-man but the A’s could use the Bassitt 60-day DL option should they target him or another lefty, Patrick Schuster, who was impressive during the spring and who has a 1.59 ERA at Nashville.
Semien said he’s never played in a doubleheader and was looking forward to it; the A’s didn’t have one last year and their most recent doubleheader was April 4, 2014, at the Coliseum (when tarps weren’t placed overnight before a game against the Mariners and rain made the field unplayable).
Danny Valencia returned after missing 15 days with a hamstring strain and utility infielder Tyler Ladendorf was sent back to Nashville.