MESA, Ariz. — A’s manager Bob Melvin is going to have a little bit more thinking to do with his lineups this season.
As the season got deeper and the A’s continued their playoff run in 2018, Melvin’s lineup was pretty set for the most part. The only real difference by the end of the season came in the leadoff spot with Nick Martini against right-handed pitchers and Ramón Laureano against lefties.
That won’t be the case this season.
The departure of Jed Lowrie has opened up the No. 3 spot. Melvin has Stephen Piscotty slotted third for the A’s Cactus League opener set for Thursday against the Mariners, but he’ll use multiple players in there throughout spring training in order to find the right fit.