Jesse Chavez deserves better than this. The A’s season being what it is, however, a 2.64 ERA that has resulted in just two wins serves as a microcosm for the Oakland season as a whole.
Chavez came to spring training planning on being in the rotation. The A’s had injuries and departures in the rotation. In their place there were new and untested arms. With Chavez coming off a decent half-season in the rotation in 2014, the notion wasn’t out of the question.
It didn’t work. He’d faded some late last year with the number of innings he was being asked to throw, and he’d been so reliable in middle relief that the club decided to live him there.