“Even when Frankie was here, they kind of shared that role. “I think he’s kind of been in that (leadership) role all year,” Pinder said of Irvin. He relied heavily on a mid-90s four-seam fastball, as he had four strikeouts through three innings and seven through five innings. Wednesday, though, Irvin allowed singles in the third and fourth innings but retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced. But that title now likely now belongs to Irvin, who had a 4-1 record in July before his last four starts, in which he was 0-4 with a 4.50 ERA.
Montas, who was traded for four players, including Sears, might have been considered the A’s best starter before he was shipped to the Bronx. Having the most innings on the team is still surprising and still kind of bizarre, but I think just taking what we can learn from each other is really big for us as a young staff, both starting and relieving.” “I don’t feel like there’s anything added from veteran guys leaving. We just need to keep doing our job and do it well enough that other guys can learn from it. “We don’t need to try to be someone else.
We don’t need to over overdo things,” said Irvin, in his second full season in Oakland. “I think we all just need to take a small step forward. After Wednesday, his ERA is 3.16, now 25th-best in Major League Baseball among qualified pitchers. Sears, Adam Oller, and Zach Logue, who are all scheduled to start against the Yankees, Irvin (6-11) can now be looked at as the A’s de facto ace.
With some other less-experienced arms on the starting staff like J.P. Irwin has become the A’s leader in innings pitched, now with 142⅓, since Montas was traded and Paul Blackburn was shut down for the season earlier this month with an inflamed right middle finger.