HOUSTON -- A's right-hander Jharel Cotton won't start Thursday, as originally planned. Instead, Oakland will send righty Daniel Gossett to the mound for the series finale in Houston, allowing Cotton extra time for his right thumb blister to heal.
Cotton threw a bullpen session without any issues Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, and the righty said he's on track to start Saturday's home matchup with the Braves, which manager Bob Melvin confirmed.
"We'll see how it goes and what they want to do," Cotton said, "but it's healed. I've just got to get the skin toughened, so I'm going to get my treatment and, hopefully, be back out there Saturday.