OAKLAND — With Trevor Cahill unable to make his scheduled start Saturday but deemed well enough to stay off the disabled list, the Athletics face the Kansas City Royals with a two-man bench.
When Chris Bassitt was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to fill Cahill’s spot in the rotation, outfielder Nick Martini was optioned to Nashville. That gives the A’s just two eligible position players beyond the starting lineup — outfielder Dustin Fowler and catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
Normally starters, Fowler took a seat in favor of Mark Canha while the A’s face left-handed starter Danny Duffy, with the right-handed batting Chad Pinder also getting a start.