Change in the Rotation Coming?

The A's have announced their starters for Saturday and Sunday's games against the Chicago White Sox, but have left Friday's starter TBD. 

Fri — TBA vs. RHP Sean Burke (5-4, 3.56)

Sat — LHP Gage Jump (3-3, 3.77) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (4-6, 4.34) 

Sun — RHP J.T. Ginn (7-5, 3.10) vs. LHP Noah Schultz (2-6, 6.00)

Friday is Aaron Civale's spot in the rotation. This could be the A's looking to go with another opener, or perhaps even moving him to the bullpen for the final series before the break. We mentioned this as a possibility in this week's Green and Gold Standard. We'll have to see what Mark Kotsay says on Thursday. 

Joey Estes last pitched on July 5, so he would be fresh for this start. Kade Morris is the scheduled starter for Las Vegas on Thursday, Braden Nett pitched on Wednesday, and Luis Morales pitched on Tuesday, so those three aren't options for a call-up. 

Aside from Estes, if a move is indeed being made, Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang is the only other starter that hasn't been used yet this season. 

Jacob Lopez threw 63 pitches out of the A's bullpen on Tuesday and Mason Barnett threw 26 on Wednesday, limiting the starter options in the current bullpen. 

That could leave someone like Luis Medina serving as an opener, going two to three innings, followed by Civale who will hopefully provide five innings, and then giving way to the leverage arms late with a lead. 

Give how badly the team has struggled of late, it may be time to try different configurations to get the most out of the pitchers on the staff.