July 8, 2020 1:31 AM : Bassitt would likely be brought into the starting rotation if Jesus Luzardo (illness) isn't cleared before Opening Day, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "He showed he's a real weapon last year," manager Bob Melvin said of Bassitt. "It wasn't an easy role. He had to acclimate to it. All guys that were starters want to be starters. They want that routine. Then realizing you have to do things differently, buying in is the big thing. He bought in and realized how important he is to the team. When we talk about starters, you have to include him."
Analysis: The 31-year-old has worn several hats since joining the Athletics back in 2015, including logging 50 starts over that span. Half of those came last season, when Bassitt forged a 10-5 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 144 innings. With Luzardo having tested positive for COVID-19 and now forced to self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days, there's a chance the talented southpaw misses at least his first turn through the rotation. If so, Bassitt is a very likely candidate to step in, given his extensive starting experience and solid body of work in that capacity.