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A's ace Sonny Gray was scratched from Monday's Opening Night start with food poisoning, with No. 2 starter Rich Hill taking his place.
The A's made the announcement Monday afternoon, adding a last-minute twist to an opener against the Chicago White Sox that's expected to draw a sellout crowd.
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The start will mark the A's debut for Hill, a 36-year-old lefty signed in the offseason after spending most of his career as a reliever. He was slated to start Tuesday, but because the team builds in an extra day off for its starters leading into the regular season, Hill will be pitching on his standard four days' rest.
It's an unfortunate development for the A's in that Gray is the unquestioned leader of their pitching staff, a Cy Young finalist last season who was preparing for his third consecutive Opening Night assignment.
Last year, he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Texas and got the win in the opener.
Shortly before the All-Star break last season, Gray was briefly hospitalized with a case of salmonella.
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Hill struggled most of spring training, posting an 11.25 ERA but turning in his strongest start In his final exhibition.