The Oakland Athletics have always been known for their strong pitching rotation, and it looks like that trend will continue in 2023. With a combination of young talent and experienced veterans, the A’s are poised to make a deep playoff run in the coming years.
At the top of the rotation, we have Sean Manaea. The left-handed pitcher has been a consistent force for the A’s since his debut in 2016. In 2022, Manaea posted a 3.61 ERA and recorded 180 strikeouts in 185 innings pitched. He’s only 30 years old and has plenty of gas left in the tank, making him a reliable ace for the A’s.
Following Manaea is A.J. Puk, a promising young lefty who has battled injuries throughout his career. Puk was the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft and has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy. In 2022, he made 18 starts and posted a 3.89 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched. If he can stay healthy, Puk has the potential to be a dominant force in the A’s rotation for years to come.
Next up is James Kaprielian, another young pitcher who has shown promise in his limited time in the majors. Kaprielian made his debut in 2020 and has since made 23 starts for the A’s. In 2022, he posted a 3.98 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched. Kaprielian has a solid repertoire of pitches and could develop into a reliable mid-rotation starter for the A’s.
Rounding out the rotation are two veterans, Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas. Bassitt has been a mainstay in the A’s rotation since 2015 and has been one of their most consistent starters over that time. In 2022, he posted a 3.66 ERA with 168 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched. At 34 years old, Bassitt may not have many years left in the tank, but he should still be a reliable back-end starter for the A’s in 2023.
Montas, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down career with the A’s. He’s shown flashes of dominance but has also struggled with consistency at times. In 2022, he posted a 4.45 ERA with 144 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched. Montas has the potential to be a solid mid-rotation starter if he can put it all together.
Overall, the A’s projected pitching rotation for 2023 looks strong. With a combination of young talent and experienced veterans, they should be able to compete with any team in the league. Of course, injuries and other unforeseen circumstances could always throw a wrench into things, but if everyone stays healthy and performs up to their potential, the A’s could have one of the best rotations in baseball.
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