WEST SACRAMENTO – Brady Basso has had chances to begin the game as an opener for the Athletics a few times this season, but this one was different. Down a starter after J.T. Ginn landed on the injured list last week, the A’s called on Basso to take the mound for Wednesday’s series finale against the Blue Jays at Sutter Health Park. When making the announcement the day before, however, manager Mark Kotsay carefully worded the left-hander’s assignment rather than just labeling him an opener. “We’re going to use Basso to start the game,” Kotsay said. “He’ll be listed as a starter, and we’ll manage the game accordingly.” Turns out, this wasn’t just an opener role for Basso. It was more of an audition for the rotation, one that he aced by firing four scoreless innings on 68 pitches -- both season highs -- in a 2-0 victory over Toronto to secure a series win for the A’s, who have now won six of their last eight games. Kotsay was planning to give Basso a look in the rotation all along, pulling him into his office last week to discuss the decision. “He was excited about the opportunity for him to step into the rotation and fill this role,” Kotsay said. “He had a lot of confidence when I talked to him about this opportunity, and he went out today and showed that he’s got a pitch mix that can keep hitters in a pretty good lineup off balance.” Basso utilized six different pitches on Wednesday. Those offerings were three types of fastballs -- four-seam, cutter, sinker -- along with a curveball, changeup and slider. That arsenal limited the Blue Jays to three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Basso also generated mostly weak contact, with an average exit velocity of 87.6 mph on Toronto’s 11 batted-ball events against him. Starting is what the A’s envisioned for Basso a few years ago when he resided on the club’s Top 30 Prospects list from 2024-25. He got a limited run as a full-time starter for the A’s at the end of the 2024 season, and entered 2025 Spring Training expected to be in the mix for a spot in the rotation, but shoulder issues sidelined him for most of last season and confined him to a relief role. “The injuries that he had took away from his opportunity, at least \[to pitch\
