MESA, Ariz. -- Yet another A's starter is injured, and it's taken the guesswork out of their Opening Day rotation.
Right-hander Paul Blackburn has been diagnosed with a right forearm strain and will be evaluated further Thursday, an unfortunate development that leaves just five healthy A's starters in camp.
By default, that means the season-opening rotation will include Kendall Graveman, Sean Manaea, Daniel Mengden, Andrew Triggs and Daniel Gossett, though not necessarily in that order.
Blackburn is scheduled for an MRI as the A's hold their breath; a forearm strain is often a precursor to a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which requires Tommy John surgery.