Starting Thursday after all Bassitt (face) will be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Impact James Kaprielian was initially pencilled in to start Thursday's series finale, but manager Bob Melvin announced Tuesday that Bassitt would be activated to toe the rubber instead. The right-hander hasn't pitched since being struck by a comebacker and suffering multiple facial fractures during his start against the White Sox on Aug. 17. He was initially deemed unlikely to return during the regular season, but with him pitching Thursday, he could start as many as three games during Oakland's pivotal 10-game stretch to conclude the season. Per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, Bassitt's return will probably push Kaprielian to the bullpen, though that decision isn't expected to be made until later in the week. Given his lengthy absence and the fact that he did not go on a minor-league rehab assignment, Bassitt seems near certain to be on a strict pitch count Thursday.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
