Bobby

Cramer

No surprise here. With Rich Harden’s injury ruling him out of the competition, McCarthy has to be the odds on favorite. He’s given up three runs over eight innings this spring while striking out five and walking no one. Slusser says that Tyson Ross and Bobby Cramer are “right behind” McCarthy, but we’ve got to think it’s McCarthy’s job to lose.

The A’s had the option of giving him an extra day with the scheduled off-day on Thursday. Bobby Cramer is still expected to get more opportunities before the season is out, but this means his turn in the rotation will be skipped. Gonzalez was knocked around for seven runs over two innings against the Royals on Tuesday night.

A Mike Aviles homer was the only damage. Cramer struck out four and walked one in the outing. He’s a long shot to be included in Oakland’s 2011 plans, but he’s getting a chance to catch some eyes now after being signed out of the Mexican League. If he remains in the rotation, he’ll face the Twins this weekend.

With a 3.04 ERA in four starts since making his major league debut earlier this month, the 30-year-old Cramer has made a definite case for remaining on Oakland’s 40-man roster this winter. It’d be bad news if he starts next year in the team’s rotation, but he’d be nice to have stashed away as Triple-A depth.

He’s likely to take the place of Vin Mazzaro in the starting rotation next Monday or Tuesday against the Royals. If so, the A’s would have four left-handed starters. Cramer, 30, was signed out of the independent Mexican League to post a 1.94 ERA and 35/11 K/BB ratio over seven starts with Triple-A Sacramento this season. He’s a great story, but we wouldn’t bank on an unknown quantity in fantasy leagues.

Cramer, 31, has posted a 4.60 ERA and 18/6 K/BB ratio over four starts at the Triple-A level since being demoted in late-April. It looks like he’ll pitch out of the bullpen for now, but he could eventually be a consideration for the starting rotation if Josh Outman or Guillermo Moscoso struggle.

McCarthy was always the logical choice if he finished the spring healthy, even if Tyson Ross might have more upside. The A’s haven’t decided yet whether to keep Ross as a middle reliever, but it seems likely that they will. It’s probably down to him and Cramer.

Cramer didn’t make any appearances out of the bullpen after being called up Friday. He’ll return to Sacramento’s rotation.

He struck out two batters and allowed three home runs. Cramer admitted that he tweaked his back in the first inning while trying to pick a runner off first base and didn’t feel the same after that. Unfortunately for him, that excuse isn’t likely to matter, as his outside shot at the No. 5 spot in the rotation likely went by the wayside after this effort.

Braden made it through only five innings Saturday against the Tigers despite allowing only one unearned run and three hits. He told reporters after the start that he’s never experienced the kind of discomfort that is bothering his throwing shoulder at the moment. There is no timetable yet for his return. Tyson Ross or Bobby Cramer could take over his rotation spot.