OAKLAND -- The A's inverted their pitching plan for Saturday's showdown with the Mariners, opening the game with a reliever -- the just-recalled Liam Hendriks -- in front of originally scheduled starter Daniel Mengden.
Following a blueprint designed and successfully implemented by the Rays, who debuted what has been deemed the "opener" on May 19 against the Angels, when they used veteran righty Sergio Romo to pitch the first inning, the A's will test it out for themselves as they venture into September with an injury-ravaged rotation.
The strategy stems from the premise that starters struggle going through a lineup three times.