By Matthew T.F. Harrington

photo credit AP: The tarp was out at Camden Yards on Friday night as the field was covered as the game between Oakland and Baltimore was called due to rain

The Oakland Athletics chance to snap a four-game skid was delayed Friday, with a road tilt against the Baltimore Orioles being washed out. Instead, the two teams will play a traditional day-night double-header Saturday. Opening Day starter Rich Hill will take the mound for the A’s in game one while Jesse Hahn takes the bump in game two. It is Hahn’s second start since being recalled from Triple A Nashville. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Houston Astros in his 2016 debut. Mike Wright will start game one for the O’s, with ace Ubaldo Jimenez throwing the pill in game 2.

Not all news was bad for the A’s, as the team learned that starting pitcher Chris Bassitt successfully underwent Tommy John surgery. He’ll miss the rest of the season and beyond. Returning to Oakland’s roster is Danny Valencia, who was out for 15 days with a strained left hamstring. Tyler Ladendorf was sent down to Triple A to make room for Valencia.

On a team loaded with power, the Orioles home run leader is a surprise. Mark Trumbo (8) leads the team in dingers, one ahead of Chris Davis and Manny Machado. Machado (.342 average) and Trumbo (.324) are part of the 2^nd best offensive lineup in the American League, with the AL East leading O’s just hitting .264 as a team on the year. The A’s rank 11^th in the league and sit 4 games back of division leaders Seattle, a team that just swept the A’s as part of their 3 city, 9-game road trip.