OAKLAND - The A's will call up Triple-A right-handers Raul Alcantara and Jharel Cotton to start two of the three games in their upcoming series with the Angels.
The A's consider both to be potentially key pieces to their future rotation. Alcantara will start Monday's series opener against Los Angeles, with Cotton going Wednesday. Ross Detwiler takes the ball Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old Alcantara, who came to Oakland in the same trade that brought Josh Reddick from Boston, had emerged as the A's top pitching prospect before he underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2014. He's made a full recovery and has been lights-out since receiving a promotion from Double-A Midland to Triple-A Nashville.
In eight starts with the Sounds, Alcantara is 4-0 with a 1.18 ERA. He's struck out 32 and walked just three.
"He's worked very hard from some injuries to battle through and put himself in position to where it's his time," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We're excited about watching him."
Cotton, 24, was one of three right-handers obtained from the Dodgers in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick deal, and of the three, he was considered the closest to major league-ready. Like Alcantara, he's been sharp since joining Nashville, and he gained attention for himself Aug. 9 when he came within an out of throwing a perfect game.
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Highly touted third base prospect Matt Chapman, who earned Texas League Player of the Year honors before being promoted to Triple-A, clubbed three homers for Nashville on Saturday against New Orleans. It's been a monster power-hitting season for Chapman, who has 36 home runs and 96 RBI combined between Double-A and Triple-A. But Melvin said Sunday that he doubts Chapman will be among the A's September call-ups.
"I think maybe a couple other guys," Melvin said. "But I think based on the fact he just came to Triple A, and he's a little bit behind some of the guys we're seeing now, age and so forth, controllability, I would hesitate to say we'll see him here. (But) you never know, and those aren't my decisions anyway."
Chapman is slated to play in the Arizona Fall League and figures to compete for the Opening Day roster in the spring.
