Oakland Athletics: Jesus Luzardo to make first career start on Tuesday

Oakland Athletics’ top prospect Jesus Luzardo is set to make his first career start on Tuesday.

The Oakland Athletics are reeling in the midst of a three-game losing streak. However, they’re set to receive a boost in the form of top prospect Jesus Luzardo who will be making his first career start this Tuesday.

As announced on Friday by manager Bob Melvin, Luzardo will take the mound against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum this Tuesday as the A’s look to spark a pitching staff that’s struggled over the past few days.

And while a three-game stretch early in the season usually isn’t too much to be concerned about, every loss matters in a 60-game season. The A’s need a spark and perhaps Luzardo could provide that.

Luzardo made his much-anticipated MLB debut last season appearing in six games in September. In total, the 22-year-old allowed just two runs and five hits in 12.0 innings while striking out 16 batters.

It was an incredibly promising debut that followed a challenging season ripe with injuries in which his MLB debut was pushed back multiple times.

The Oakland Athletics had high hopes for Jesus Luzardo going into 2020.

But going into 2020, the hope was that Luzardo could not only step into the rotation full-time but solidify his place in the American League Rookie of the Year picture.

Unfortunately, a bout with coronavirus prior to the shortened 2020 season once again delayed his chance to earn a spot in the starting rotation.

Luzardo has made two relief appearances in 2020 allowing just one earned run in 6.2 innings pitched striking out seven batters as well. And now, he’ll finally be given an opportunity to make his first career start.

The expectation is that righty Daniel Mengden will move into the bullpen as a result while Frankie Montas is scheduled to pitch the series finale against the Seattle Mariners on Monday on normal rest.

Teammate Chris Bassitt spoke about the excitement surrounding Luzardo’s first MLB start.

"“It’s exciting for the whole entire team, the energy he brings. When he’s on the mound, we’re expecting to win that game, so he’s obviously a boost we need right now.”"

Strong words from his fellow pitcher. When Luzardo is on the mound, Bassitt and the A’s are expecting to win that game. And as Bassitt said, the A’s are desperately in need of a boost after falling short in three consecutive games.

Oakland will have some time to turn around their fortune before Luzardo takes the mound on Tuesday with a three-game series against the Mariners beginning later tonight.

Hopefully, the A’s are looking a little better by the time Luzardo starts this Tuesday.

Either way, the wait is over A’s fans. The young phenom is set to make his first career major-league start.