A's Rotation Coming into Focus

On Friday, Mark Kotsay told reporters that Kyle Muller would be the A's Opening Day starter. Saturday, he included three more names.

Shintaro Fujinami, who threw six no-hit innings on Saturday, will be starting the second game of the season for Oakland next Saturday. That start did include four walks, three wild pitches, and two runs crossing home, however. Kotsay also told reporters that he would be the team's Saturday starter and pitch once a week, at least initially.

The other two starters joining Muller and Fuji will be Ken Waldichuk and James Kaprielian. Waldichuk is slated to start Sunday's Bay Bridge exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants in Oakland, with Kaprielian getting the nod on Monday in San Francisco.

Whether they remain in that order has not yet been disclosed. There are two off-days between Monday's game and Thursday's season opener, plus an off day on Friday, in between the first and second games of the season. On regular rest Kaprielian would have been in line for Saturday's game, but that start is going to Fujinami. The A's could end up deciding to have him pitch in the fourth game of the season and the first against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday April 3, in order to give him a couple of extra days to be fully ready after off-season surgery.

The fifth spot in the rotation belongs to Drew Rucinski, if he is good to go. On Wednesday it was reported that Rucinski has been dealing with hamstring tightness and his availability to start the season with Oakland is in question. The answer to that question will determine whether it's him, or potentially JP Sears starting that fifth game.

All Star Paul Blackburn should also be ready to join the rotation before long, though he'll be starting the season on the IL due to a torn nail from his start in Las Vegas during the first weekend of March.

It remains to be seen which pitcher could be the odd-man out once Blackburn and Rucinski are deemed ready to join the rotation, but it could come down to left-handers Muller and Waldichuk. Muller has one minor league option remaining, while Walduchuk has three.