Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton has a "leg up" on the number-four spot in the season-opening starting rotation, manager Bob Melvin told reporters Thursday.
Cotton was pretty spectacular across five starts during his first taste of major league action in 2016. He's going to carry plenty of upside this season for an Athletics club that plays its home games in one of baseball's pitcher-friendliest parks.
Over 29 1/3 innings last season, the 25-year-old right-hander twirled a 2.15 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 20.5 strikeout percentage.
Source: Rotoworld.com