Editorials
A’s going with three-man rotation in playoff series
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Oakland Athletics will go with a three-man starting rotation in the first round of the AL playoff series against Minnesota.
Tim Hudson (15-9, 2.98 ERA) will start the opener of the best-of-five series at Oakland on Tuesday.
Left-handers Mark Mulder (19-7, 3.47) and Barry Zito (22-5, 2.78) follow in Games 2 and 3.
Cory Lidle (8-10, 3.89) will pitch out of the bullpen in the series against the Twins.
“That’s something we didn’t do the last couple of years. We’ll change it up and see what happens,” Zito said of the three-man rotation. “We’ll have Lidle coming out of the ’pen, and he’ll be back in the rotation if we make it to the next round.”
Last year, the Athletics lost the division series in five games against the New York Yankees after winning the first two games behind Mulder and Hudson.
