A’s manager Bob Melvin spends his video press conference providing answers. He started Saturday’s session off with a question.
“You want to hear about my Opening Day starter?”
The grid of A’s reporters working remotely nodded in unison, but it was less about killing suspense than making things official.
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Frankie Montas is the guy.
The 27-year old right-hander will take the mound first, in the July 24 opener against the L.A. Angels at the Oakland Coliseum.
There’s no shock in that. Montas never stopped training after baseball shutdown in March and came to A’s summer camp in tip top shape, ready to ramp up and get ready for a 60-game sprint of a season.
Melvin called his last outing borderline electric, and Montas has earned praised from every teammate asked about him this spring.
Oakland Athletics
Montas has been the favorite to start on Opening Day, and even Melvin’s announcement to the team wasn’t a surprise considering how the pitchers were lined up headed toward Friday's opener.
“He can count, so he kind of knew he was start anyway, but confirming it [Friday] was still a big deal,” Melvin said. “It’s a source of pride to start the first game. There are a lot of things going on this year that are a little bit different but being able to pitch Opening Day is special regardless of the circumstance. He had a big smile on his face when I told him. I think he’s excited about it."
[RELATED: Making case for Montas to win 2020 Cy Young]
Montas will front a talented A’s rotation that should help the team during this shortened season. Montas earned the No. 1 slot, with Sean Manaea, Mike Fiers, Chris Bassitt and A.J. Puk behind him, respectively.
“I would have been comfortable with any of the first three,” Melvin said. “We feel good about Frankie at the top.”
Jesus Luzardo would've been in the rotation had he not tested positive for coronavirus before training camp. He has been cleared to pitch but will take some time to ramp up, so he'll work out of the bullpen to start the season and move into the rotation once he's ready.