:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55632837/811003020.0.jpg)
Last week was arguably the most grueling Félix Day in years. It did not have the stakes of some other memorable let-downs, but it felt more hopeless. Watching Félix pitch doesn’t (to me) look like a pitcher who is done, but one that has not yet discovered the new path to success for himself. The problem is that that discovery, if it ever comes, seems less likely with each start to appear in time to make a difference this year. Today is another Félix day, however, and Matt Ellis has the recap, so maybe, just maybe, The King will rise to the occasion. It would help if the offense had his back.
The A’s offer another inexperienced starter, this time in the form of rookie RHP Daniel Gossett. Gossett has shown little interest in striking hitters out in the majors thus far, nor in walking them to his credit. He’s given up an extraordinary number of home runs, with a 24.1% HR/FB rate that is 7th highest among starters who have thrown at least 25 IP, which is a small sample and also made significantly less fun when seeing Félix Hernández’s name at 3rd highest. Gossett works all of his pitches a decent amount, with a plurality of fastballs supplemented by sliders about a quarter of the time, and a curveball, sinker, and changeup that all are used over 10% of the time.