Oakland A’s call up Chris Bassitt, option Emilio Pagan

The Oakland A’s called up pitcher Chris Bassitt on Sunday, the team announced. The right-hander will start the day’s game against the Twins. To make room on the roster, reliever Emilio Pagan was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.

The A’s are bringing up Bassitt just for this one spot start, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle. With the team playing a lot of consecutive days late in the season, they wanted to give the rotation some extra rest. With Bassitt going Sunday, everyone else will be pushed back a day.

Bassitt, 2018: 3.38 ERA, 32 ip, 25 Ks, 12 BB, 2 HR, 3.72 FIP

We last saw Bassitt in Oakland in mid-July. Overall he’s made six starts for the A’s this year, including a couple gems and a couple stinkers. The 29-year-old has spent the last several weeks in Triple-A, where he’s put up promising results while waiting for this next chance.

Bassitt, last 7 gms AAA: 2.76 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 11 BB, 4 HR, 3.97 FIP

The odd man out for now is Pagan. The only other relievers with minor league options are Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino, and sole lefty Ryan Buchter, so it makes sense that Pagan was the pick to take a step back. The right-hander is having a decent season in middle relief and mopup duty, but in Oakland’s stacked bullpen that makes him the last guy in line.

Pagan, 2018: 3.71 ERA, 53⅓ ip, 53 Ks, 15 BB, 10 HR, 4.62 FIP

He last pitched last Sunday, soaking up three innings but allowing three solo homers along the way. Before that, though, he’d allowed just one run in his previous eight games. Presumably, we can expect another reliever to come up on Monday to replace Bassitt, and then next Saturday rosters expand so even more arms can be recalled. However, Pagan can’t be brought back until early next week, when Nashville’s season ends.