NEW YORK (AP) — Fittingly, Liam Hendriks wore his cap backward. A reliever is going to start a team's postseason opener.A pitcher with no wins in the regular season.A pitcher cut from the 40-man roster in June who spent two months toiling in the minor leagues.A pitcher from Down Under who was happy to get medieval in New York."Instead of the starter going six and handing it over to the bullpen or going five and handing it over to the bullpen, now we're just reversing it," Oakland's Australian right-hander said Tuesday, a day ahead of the Athletics' AL wild card game against the New York Yankees.New York's Aaron Boone made a more conventional choice for his postseason game as a manager, picking Luis Severino over J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka. Severino created a bullpen night in last year's wild card game but not by design, lasting just one out and leaving with a three-run deficit against Minnesota in a game the Yankees rallied to win 8-4.Oakland manager Bob Melvin has been scrambling because... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Reliever Liam Hendriks will start for the Oakland Athletics in Wednesday night's AL wild-card game against the New York Yankees.Hendriks was designated for assignment in June and cleared waivers, but now he'll open the biggest game of Oakland's season. He will be only the fourth pitcher to start a postseason game after a regular season of no wins, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.A 29-year-old right-hander, Hendriks was 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 25 appearances this year, including 0-1 and a 2.08 ERA in eight September starts of 1 2/3 innings or less. He pitched seven shutout innings in his last seven starts, allowing four hits.Virgil Trucks started twice for Detroit in the 1945 World Series after returning from World War II and making one regular-season appearance. The others to start in the postseason after no regular-season wins were Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo in 2008 when he returned from a torn knee ligament, and St. Louis' Chris Carpenter in 2012 when he came back from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.Following injuries to Sean Manaea, Jharel Cotton and several others, Oakland manager Bob Melvin used 15 starters.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Reliever Liam Hendriks will start for the Oakland Athletics in Wednesday night's AL wild-card game against the New York Yankees.Hendriks was designated for assignment in June and cleared waivers, but now he'll open the biggest game of Oakland's season. He will be only the fourth pitcher to start a postseason game after a regular season of no wins, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.A 29-year-old right-hander, Hendriks was 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA in 25 appearances this year, including 0-1 and a 2.08 ERA in eight September starts of 1 2/3 innings or less. He pitched seven shutout innings in his last seven starts, allowing four hits.Virgil Trucks started twice for Detroit in the 1945 World Series after returning from World War II and making one regular-season appearance. The others to start in the postseason after no regular-season wins were Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo in 2008 when he returned from a torn knee ligament, and St. Louis' Chris Carpenter in 2012 when he came back from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.Following injuries to Sean Manaea, Jharel Cotton and several others, Oakland manager Bob Melvin used 15 starters.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees:___Schedule: Wednesday, at New York, 8:08 p.m. EDT (TBS).___Season Series: Split 3-3.___Projected Lineups:Athletics: LF Nick Martini (.296, 1 HR, 19 RBIs), 3B Matt Chapman (.278, 24, 68, 42 2Bs, 100 runs), 2B Jed Lowrie (.267, 23, 99, 37 2Bs), DH Khris Davis (.247, 48, 123), RF Stephen Piscotty (.267, 27, 88, 41 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.247, 29, 84), SS Marcus Semien (.255, 15, 70), CF Ramon Laureano (.288, 5, 19 in 48 games), C Jonathan Lucroy (.241, 4, 51).Yankees: LF Andrew McCutchen (.255, 20, 65 for Pirates and Yankees) or Brett Gardner (.236, 12, 45, 16 SBs), RF Aaron Judge (.278, 27, 67, 152 Ks in 112 games), SS Didi Gregorius (.268, 27, 86 in 134 games), DH Giancarlo Stanton (.266, 38, 100, 211 Ks), CF Aaron Hicks (.248, 27, 79 in 137 games), 3B Miguel Andujar (.297, 27, 92, 47 2Bs), 1B Luke Voit (.322, 15, 36 in 47 games for Cardinals and Yankees; .333, 14, 33 in 39 games with Yankees),... [More]

A look at the American League wild-card game between the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees:___Schedule: Wednesday, at New York, 8:08 p.m. EDT (TBS).___Season Series: Split 3-3.___Projected Lineups:Athletics: LF Nick Martini (.296, 1 HR, 19 RBIs), 3B Matt Chapman (.278, 24, 68, 42 2Bs, 100 runs), 2B Jed Lowrie (.267, 23, 99, 37 2Bs), DH Khris Davis (.247, 48, 123), RF Stephen Piscotty (.267, 27, 88, 41 2Bs), 1B Matt Olson (.247, 29, 84), SS Marcus Semien (.255, 15, 70), CF Ramon Laureano (.288, 5, 19 in 48 games), C Jonathan Lucroy (.241, 4, 51).Yankees: LF Andrew McCutchen (.255, 20, 65 for Pirates and Yankees) or Brett Gardner (.236, 12, 45, 16 SBs), RF Aaron Judge (.278, 27, 67, 152 Ks in 112 games), SS Didi Gregorius (.268, 27, 86 in 134 games), DH Giancarlo Stanton (.266, 38, 100, 211 Ks), CF Aaron Hicks (.248, 27, 79 in 137 games), 3B Miguel Andujar (.297, 27, 92, 47 2Bs), 1B Luke Voit (.322, 15, 36 in 47 games for Cardinals and Yankees; .333, 14, 33 in 39 games with Yankees),... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — If the Oakland Athletics are to advance in October, they'll have to do it without Sean Manaea.Manaea, who threw a no-hitter against Boston earlier this season, joined Oakland's list of pitchers lost to season-ending surgery when the team announced Tuesday that the lefty was done for the year because of shoulder trouble.The playoff-contending A's said Manaea, on the disabled list since Aug. 26, will have an operation to repair a left shoulder impingement on Sept. 19 at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles."He was that guy that every series, when teams played us, they're looking to see if Manaea's pitching in the series," manager Bob Melvin said before a game at Baltimore. "That's what your top guy means to you. Again, I feel worse for him. We'll find a way to manage around it."The 26-year-old Manaea went 12-9 with a 3.59 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings this year. He pitched a no-hitter at home against the Red Sox on April 21, fanning 10.The A's... [More]

Shohei Ohtani has a starting assignment, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have a mess on their hands.With the regular season set to begin Thursday, the Angels scheduled Ohtani to make his major league pitching debut Sunday in their fourth game at Oakland. The two-way sensation from Japan is expected to be Los Angeles' designated hitter in at least one of the first three games, but manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday night the team hadn't decided on an opening-day lineup yet.The 23-year-old Ohtani, who struggled in spring training, was told after the exhibition finale against the Dodgers that he'll pitch Sunday."He's gotten into the mid-80-pitch range and should be able to get over 90 if he's throwing to his capabilities," Scioscia said. "That's plenty of pitches for him to get deep into the game. We're going to take it one pitch at a time with all of our pitchers."Ohtani was supposed to get an at-bat or two Tuesday night but that didn't happen because the game was called in the bottom of the... [More]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland Athletics pitching prospect A.J. Puk has injured his pitching elbow, and Dr. James Andrews is recommending he have Tommy John surgery.The left-handed Puk injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team said Tuesday. Puk was initially diagnosed by Dr. Doug Freedberg in Arizona, and Andrews was consulted to confirm the 22-year-old's injury.Puk was the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft by Oakland out of the University of Florida. He struck out 184 batters in 125 innings split between Class A and Double-A last season, going 6-10 with a 4.03 ERA. Puk had a 3.38 ERA in four spring training appearances this season."First and foremost you feel sorry for him," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's a young guy. Typically when these things happen, these guys come back as strong if not stronger than ever. And I know he's going to work hard to get back and pitch in the fashion he was."Another A's pitching prospect, Jharel Cotton, had Tommy John surgery last Wednesday."The hits just keep on coming as far as the rotation goes," Melvin said.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Oakland Athletics pitching prospect A.J. Puk has injured his pitching elbow, and Dr. James Andrews is recommending he have Tommy John surgery.The left-handed Puk injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the team said Tuesday. Puk was initially diagnosed by Dr. Doug Freedberg in Arizona, and Andrews was consulted to confirm the 22-year-old's injury.Puk was the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft by Oakland out of the University of Florida. He struck out 184 batters in 125 innings split between Class A and Double-A last season, going 6-10 with a 4.03 ERA. Puk had a 3.38 ERA in four spring training appearances this season.Another A's pitching prospect, Jharel Cotton, had Tommy John surgery last Wednesday.___More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kendall Graveman will take the ball on opening day for Oakland in a second straight season, eager to be the leader of a young rotation at age 27."It's fun. I feel healthy," Graveman said as he begins his fourth season with the A's. "It's special. It's the longest I've ever been somewhere. ... It just feels like home. This is a special place and I think we've got something really good going on."The right-hander spent a pair of stints on the disabled list last season with soreness in his pitching shoulder. Now, he is thankful for a new year.Slugger Khris Davis will try to keep the baseballs flying out of the ballpark after hitting 85 home runs over the past two seasons.Manager Bob Melvin is counting on the production of both Graveman and Davis.Melvin said of Graveman's spot atop the rotation, "He's ready for it.""It's an honor to be able to go out and kind of set the tone for the season and to be that guy," Graveman said.He will have a new catcher in Jonathan Lucroy... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Oakland right-hander Jharel Cotton has had Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament his pitching elbow.The Athletics say Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister operated Wednesday at Arlington, Texas. Cotton is to remain in Arlington until Saturday.Cotton was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four spring training appearances. The 26-year-old was 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA in 24 starts last year.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball