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Oakland Athletics to Feature Young Rotation Rest of Month

By Nick Fustor

Aug 24, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (6) takes starting pitcher Kendall Graveman (49) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin (6) takes starting pitcher Kendall Graveman (49) out of the game during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kenny Karst-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oakland Athletics’ starting rotation has been a major concern this season, but they’ll be testing out a few young pitchers to end the year.

Entering the season, the Oakland Athletics‘ starting rotation figured to be the team’s strongest link.  But after a myriad of injuries and an uncharacteristically bad season from ace Sonny Gray, the A’s faltered.

Oakland’s rotation has become a disembodied group of former relievers and prospects, all lacking the cohesiveness to properly function as a unit.  With Gray injured, Henderson Alvarez ruled out for the season, Jarrod Parker on the disabled list and Sean Manaea rehabbing, the A’s will need to hope at least one of their healthy pitchers emerges as a legitimate option to stay in the rotation beyond this month.

Despite the constant changes this season, 25-year-old right-hander Kendall Graveman has thrived in his first full year in the A’s rotation.  Graveman has never been a flashy name, nor does he thrive at one particular aspect of pitching, but he’s been more than reliable every time he’s called upon to start.

Graveman owns a 3.81 ERA with 5.25 K/9 and 2.32 BB/9, while posting a 51.8 percent groundout rate.  While he lacks a true strikeout pitch, Graveman’s solid command and tendency for groundouts has made him successful in the pitcher friendly O.co Coliseum.  And with the team lacking options atop the rotation, his emergence was very much needed.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Gray, Alvarez and Andrew Triggs will all likely miss the rest of the season. With injuries piling up in the past few weeks, the A’s announced earlier this week that prospects Raul Alcantara and Jharel Cotton would make their debuts this week.

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Alcantara made his debut with the A’s against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 5 to mixed results. After dominating in the minors this season, the 23-year-old lasted just three innings while giving up five runs on five hits.  His 1.18 ERA and solid strikeout to walk ratio in the Triple-A indicates he should improve going forward.

The next young pitcher to debut for the A’s will be Cotton, who was acquired in the Rich Hill / Josh Reddick trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. Cotton had a 2.82 ERA with 36 strikeouts and seven walks in six starts with Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate, while striking out 28.2 percent of the batters he faced.

At 24 with a tendency to rack up strikeouts, Cotton could prove worthy of a spot in the rotation next season.

With the A’s now looking to 2017, the call-ups of Alcantara and Cotton are firm signs that Oakland may be on the verge of a quick rebound.  Rather than forcing Ross Detweiler into a starting role, the A’s can see what they have in Alcantara and Cotton. With the team out of contention and Graveman thriving atop the rotation, Gray can rehab without the pressure of returning this season.

Next: Rays' Duffy Out for the Season

Oakland has always been envied for their pitching depth, and this September will show what they have going forward.

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