OAKLAND -- The A's are calling up right-hander and local product Paul Blackburn to start Saturday's game, manager Bob Melvin said.
He will start in place of right-hander Jharel Cotton, who is battling a blister issue. He was originally slotted to start Thursday in Houston. The A's aren't placing Cotton on the disabled list and hadn't announced a corresponding move for Blackburn as of Friday afternoon.
"We'll just try to push [Cotton] back potentially a couple more days, which means we feel like he's making progress," Melvin said. "He can go out there and throw a full complement.