A's keep AL Wild Card options open as Lou Trivino makes first start

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ANAHEIM — With their pitching plans still up in the air for the wild card game, the A's used rookie right-hander Lou Trivino as an opener Friday night against the Angels. Mike Fiers, originally scheduled to start the game, followed up in the second inning.

Trivino retired all three Los Angeles batters he faced, needing only 11 pitches to get through the top of the order. 

Before the game, A's manager Bob Melvin said the decision to start Trivino has more to do with making sure he has recovered from a neck injury that kept him out the last couple of games.

“Because of the neck, we don't want to rush him in trying to get ready,” Melvin told reporters in Anaheim. “Give him as much time as he wants to get loose and get ready. Starting is a little different animal for him, but we felt like, all things considered, this would probably be the best thing for him today.”

The decision gave the A's a chance to see Fiers in a relief role, which could be a possibility against the Yankees on Oct. 3. 

“We're not ruling anything out,” Melvin said before the game. “We want to make sure we look at every potential avenue.”

Melvin doesn't expect to make a decision on his wild card starter until after the regular season, and this final series in Anaheim could play a factor.

“We'll know more after these three days,” he said. “There are a lot of different avenues we can go and it has not been decided yet.”

Friday marked Fiers' first relief appearance of the season. In nine starts since joining the A's, he has gone 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.

“He's fine with it,” Melvin said. “He's been on board with everything we've asked him to do here. Shorter outings, there's been a lot thrown at him. He's performed really well for us. ... He's just going to go out there like the second inning is the first inning.”

It would appear the A's have three starting pitching options against the Yankees: Fiers, Edwin Jackson, or a reliever. Regardless of who gets the start, expect Melvin to go to his bullpen early. Oakland will have two days off before the game, meaning the entire 'pen will be rested and ready to throw multiple innings, if necessary.

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