Athletics Begin Pitching Changeup Following Mark Kotsay's Blunt Comments

Since Kotsay's comments, the A's have begun to reshape their pitching staff.

Starting pitcher Jacob Lopez was informed by Kotsay after Sunday's game that he would be heading to Triple-A Las Vegas. In 12 appearances (10 starts) this season, the 28-year-old is 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 50.2 innings.

Command issues have been a major problem for the left-hander. Lopez has walked 33 batters while striking out just 38.

He retired the first six Yankees hitters he faced on Sunday before unraveling in the third inning. Seven consecutive Yankees reached base before he was relieved by Michael Kelly. Lopez finished with seven runs allowed on five hits and two walks while striking out three over two-plus innings.

However, Kelly did little to stop the damage. The right-hander allowed five straight batters to reach after entering the game and failed to finish the inning. He surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks in 0.2 innings before being replaced by Jack Perkins.

On the season, Kelly owns a 16.20 ERA and 3.60 WHIP across five innings of work. He has as many strikeouts (6) as walks (6), while opponents are hitting .462 against him.

Those pitching struggles appear to be prompting additional changes.

On Monday, MLB.com's Martín Gallegos reported that the club is calling up No. 12 prospect Kade Morris. The 23-year-old right-hander was acquired from the New York Mets at the 2024 Trade Deadline in a deal that sent Paul Blackburn to Queens.

Morris has gone 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA across 60.2 innings in 11 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas this season. While those numbers aren't eye-popping, he enters the majors on the heels of two impressive outings. Over his last two starts, Morris has allowed just one run across 13 innings.

His promotion comes at a critical time for an A's rotation that has taken hit after hit recently. Both Luis Severino (shoulder strain) and Aaron Civale (shoulder tendinitis) landed on the injured list within the past week.

Rookie Gage Jump was called up after Civale's injury, and Morris now appears to provide additional depth as the A's look to replace those innings.

Jump is scheduled to take the mound Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs as the A's begin a six-game road trip.