Sean Manaea seems ready to return to the A’s rotation. He threw 50 pitches off a bullpen mound Saturday - 30 warmups, 20 to simulate an inning - and said his back was feeling fine. He’s penciled in to start Wednesday in Kansas City.
With Manaea’s return, the A’s are expanding to a six-man rotation, which provides an opportunity to check out more talent and gives extra rest for pitchers not accustomed to working this late in a season.
Kendall Graveman faces Felix Hernandez in Saturday’s intriguing matchup, and Raul Alcantara will start Sunday’s series finale.