Brett Anderson’s Big Opening Night?

Right place, right time.  After a rain out on Monday against the Dodgers and some good old fashioned luck,  Brett Anderson, who was scheduled to pitch at the rained out  game puts him in place to pitch the April 1 opening night against the Mariners.  He will have the opportunity to take a six day rest period if that were to happen.

Gio Gonzalez, who has a 1.76 era, was formally slotted be the opening night pitcher, but he would have a shorter rest time if that were to occur and A’s management didn’t think that it would be a good idea. He is going to pitch in Wednesday’s game  instead.

Anderson may have been a good pick all along, not to say that Gonzalez shouldn’t play on opening day.  According to Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News.com, “some consider Anderson to have the best stuff of all the A’s starters.  He went 7-6 last season with a 2.80 ERA but made just 19 starts because of elbow problems. He’s 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four outings this spring.”

With this change in the pitching rotation, you may be asking yourself where Dallas Braden will fit into all of this.  The perfect game hurler is not being ruled out at this point either.  If the A’s decide to push Braden back one day then there is a possibility that he will be the opening night pitcher.   Although, he will only have a five and not a six day rest period.

There is also the option of putting Brandon McCarthy out there.  He too has a good chance of being the starting pitcher against Seattle.   Even though, he is considered the fifth starter.  It all depends on the rotations before opening day.  A subject that A’s manager Bob Geren is not commenting on just yet.  That announcement may come as soon as this Thursday and then again, it may not.