A’s Graveman has plan to get back to familiar routine

Not throwing day before start fails to get desired results

MESA, ARIZ. >> Kendall Graveman is expected to set the tone as leader of the A’s pitching staff this season, but after a solid outing in his Cactus League debut earlier in the week he struggled in Saturday’s 10-4 loss to the Padres, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks in 1 1/3 innings.

Given the team’s extra days off coming up in the regular season, Graveman decided not to throw on the day before his start, a routine he’s always implemented throughout his career and will be again after Saturday’s sketchy outing.

“I’ve always come to the field throwing the day before just to kind of keep that arm slot and that feel. With the extra off days this year, I wanted to see how that would work out,” he said. “The body felt great, but I think for me, the kind of pitcher that I am, I’m gonna need to throw on those off days when I start the day after.”

Graveman was content with the movement on his pitches but not the location.

“No more messing around and trying new things,” he said. “The next four, we gotta get outs and pitch deeper into ballgames. That’s a skill in itself to be able to get deep into ballgames and I think we’re gonna have to learn that more than ever now.”

A’s starters have a leagueworst 13.17 ERA this spring and 29th worst team ERA at 7.83.

“We’re gonna be better. There’s no doubt in my mind,” Graveman said. “We’ve got guys that can pitch and guys that are gonna be successful. I truly believe that, myself being one of those guys. We’ve got each other’s back and I think we need to express in every meeting that we gotta turn the corner. We gotta get outs. It’s time to go.”

• In two starts, A.J. Puk has yet to allow an earned run over five innings. On Saturday, he allowed just one hit while striking out three in three innings.

“He’s throwing the ball where he wants to. Real smooth delivery. He’s been really impressive,” Manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s the one guy that’s putting up zeroes for us.”

Even with a fastball around 97 mph, Puk was not completely happy with his performance.

“My command wasn’t how it was the first game but I was still able to get some outs,” said Puk, who still likely will start the season at Triple-A Nashville. “I just wasn’t happy with my two-strike pitches. I left them over the plate but luckily they didn’t do too much damage.”

• Taking part in his first live batting practice session since getting a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation on his right hand, Matt Chapman launched several balls over the left field fence at Hohokam Stadium on Saturday before the A’s took on the Padres.

Chapman is expected to be in the starting lineup today against the Padres.