SEATTLE - At the age of 36, Chris Smith will get a spot start filling on Saturday - and in doing so will become the oldest A’s pitcher ever to make his first big-league start.
Smith has made 63 big-league appearances as a reliever, including 13 with Oakland last season, but never has started a game in the major. The A’s public relations department is still researching oldest first-time starters but have found no one older to make a first start in the team’s 117-year history.
“He made a big impression on us last year,” manager Bob Melvin said.