OAKLAND — Except for one rough inning in the biggest game of the season, Liam Hendriks was effective down the stretch as the A’s “opener” last year.
Saturday, the reliever will be back in the familiar role.
The right-hander who gave up a two-run homer to Aaron Judge in the first inning of Oakland’s wild-card playoff loss at Yankee Stadium last October was a late insert to the lineup against Cleveland, replacing scheduled starter Aaron Brooks.
“The theory is to keep the starter off the top of the order one more time,” manager Bob Melvin said.