OAKLAND – There was a point earlier this season when a Triple-A starter didn’t have a prayer of cracking the A’s rotation because guys were performing so well.
Now, as the regular season winds down, the A’s are just hoping to find five healthy, productive starters to take them to the finish line. Oakland fell 8-6 to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night, and with lefty Sean Nolin allowing five runs over five-plus innings, the A’s rotation has posted a 6.18 ERA over the past 38 games. Injuries have taken their toll, and the starters subbing into the rotation have been very hit-and-miss.