OAKLAND – Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada, Brett Anderson, Frankie Montas, Aaron Brooks.
How are those five guys doing this?
Through one full rotation cycle at the Coliseum, the Oakland A's starting rotation has pitched 30 innings and allowed a grand total of one run. That's an ERA of 0.30.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE "Amazing," said manager Bob Melvin. "That was supposed to be the Achilles' heel. They keep pushing each other. It's a momentum thing that you see quite often with starting pitchers. The next one wants to go out there and up the ante or continue the trend."
Added Chad Pinder: "It's amazing. They're attacking hitters and going right at guys. They've been fantastic."
Brooks continued the improbable run Monday night, shutting out the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox for six innings, allowing just two hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
"When the first four (starters) go that well, you kind of have to keep the roll going, or at least try," he said. "Obviously, they're not the easiest of lineups to face. Keeping them off balance and keeping them guessing is the way to go and it worked out."
Athletics
Find the latest Athletics news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
"It's been a while since he's had a big league start and he gets the world champions and pitched way better than we could expect," Melvin added. "You could see the confidence build as the game went along. ... I can't say enough good things."
The A's starting rotation is set to earn $12.62 million this season. Combined. Compare that with the Red Sox rotation, which will make upwards of $88 million.
In fact, there are 29 major league pitchers who will earn more than $12.62 million this season individually. The Red Sox have four of them, including David Price, whom Brooks outdueled Monday.
Melvin is right. The A's starting rotation was supposed to be the team's Achilles' heel. Yet somehow, this overlooked, if not undermanned, collection of starters has been the best in the big leagues through five games.
