Oakland A options to start a wild-card match against the Yankees

SEATTLE – The question that everyone will be asking about A's until Wednesday's match, included Bob Melvin, is who gets the mound as a starter?

This is a situation that is truly unique for any other team that preceded them when they tackle this very important game. Will it be Mike Fiers or Edwin Jackson? Could they be bold enough to become the first team to use relief Liam Hendriks as an "opener" and start a playoff game?

It will not be an easy decision, and it will certainly not be fast. A general manager David Forst plans to meet both teams on Thursday with pitching coach Scott Emerson. The team has a rest day before the start of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.

"I do not know how we are going to fix the problem," Forst said in an interview with MLB Network Radio. "In September, we played with more bull games than just beginners. It will depend on their composition, if we play definitely Yankee Stadium and how some played there, there are many factors. We will probably take as much time as possible over the next week to make those decisions. "

The chance to host the wild-card game is not completely dead, but it's about life. After the Yankees lost to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, their magic number to claim first place in the wild card remained twice in Wednesday's game against the Mariners.

There are only three options for A. Brett Anderson has been too inconsistent to be considered an option, and Trevor Cahill has struggled a lot in his last few starts.

We weigh the pros and cons of each potential option that the A's have.

Edwin Jackson

Pro: Jackson has been very consistent since arriving at the clubhouse on June 25th. The A's are 13-3 in their 16 starts, and the right-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in 13 of those outings.

In terms of experience, no one is even close to Jackson's 16 years in the majors. He lived by winning a world series in 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He lost the only start he made in this series against the Rangers, but earned three points in three and a half innings. With the type of offensive that the A's own, they take that line of shots against the Yankees.

con: The career numbers for Jackson at Yankee Stadium are not beautiful. He is 0-2 with an average of 6.75 in four games at the new Yankee Stadium, two of those outings as a relief. Jackson has relaunched his career this season, but history is not on his side when it starts in New York.

Mike Fiers

Pro: Like Jackson, Fiers has been consistent since arriving via the trade last month. The A were victorious in eight of his nine starts, and Fiers allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of those nine.

con: Proud is experienced with eight major championship seasons, but there are not many post-internships to his credit. He participated in a playoff game, a series of relief with the Houston Astros against the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 ALDS.

The percentage of 38.4 balls hit-balls, the ninth highest among qualified beginners, is also worrying. In a battering paradise with a small porch like Yankee Stadium, the propensity of the Prouds to give up flying balls could become disastrous.

Liam Hendriks (bullpenning)

Pro: Hendriks did his job in each of his seven tries as a "first game" for the A's. He made a clean first run in the first seven games before handing it over to the long-time player, who for the most part was Daniel Mengden. It's unclear who will follow Hendriks in a playoff game, but one thing is known, Melvin may feel as confident about Hendriks as with another starter to keep the Yankees off the board in the first.

con: This was not always due to the method, but the A did not behave well in the "opening" games. They did it 3-4 while trying it, sometimes with the back of the pad that makes it explode late, other times with a rare night of offense.

The feeling among some within the organization was that Jackson would be the one to start. Given his experience and his ability to get out of jams, as he did by leaving the fourth round without a hitch Wednesday's game against the Mariners after loading the bases with a single withdrawal, it is probably the best option for A.

You would really ask for four solid runs in Jackson, followed by Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter, Lou Trivino, Fernando Rodney, Jeurys Familia and Blake Treinen.

No matter who starts, expect Treinen to go on at least two rounds, maybe even three, because the goal of the A is to get him into the game as soon as possible.

"The year that Blake took place made him the most important guy in this staff," Forst said. "We are going to start planning with him, and Familia, Rodney and Trivino have been so good. We will understand it that way.