Mike Clevinger and the San Diego Padres will visit the Oakland Coliseum on Friday through Sunday for the start of a three game series after the A’s have had six of their last eight games postponed (AP News file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The A’s have returned home and are working out at the Coliseum on Wednesday. A’s manager Bob Melvin announced that all MLB protocols to protect against Covid-19 were maintained. He said that everyone was astounded at the news that someone had been infected. “What could go wrong actually did,” manager Bob Melvin said over a call somewhere in the Coliseum’s concourse. “It’s something we’re going to have to work through and understand. At this point, there’s not much we can do about it except just prepare for the next game.”

The players are working out in groups of three to four players as they get ready to face the surging San Diego Padres for three games starting Friday night.

“It doesn’t matter, you have to be prepared for it,” Melvin said. “You have to go out there with the expectation to win come Friday. The season, in general, has been a mental battle as well. You look at see the standings, you see how teams are doing, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes that play into it this year more than any other year.”

The A’s shortstop, Marcus Semien, probably will not play Friday night. Semien’s 275 consecutive game streak ended last Saturday when he hurt his side. He is still sore, and Melvin will not put him in the lineup on Friday.

Chad Pinder will return from paternity leave. Tommy LaStella, acquired in a trade with the LA Angels, will make his Oakland A’s debut at second base on Friday. LaStella is a left-handed hitter and will help balance the A’s top-heavy righty lineup.

Lefty pitcher Mike Minor will see action coming in from the bullpen. With four doubleheaders coming up, the A’s will use Minor as a starter to go along with the A’s regular five-man rotation.

The starting pitchers for the Padres’ series will be Jesus, Luzardo, Sean Manaea, and Mike Fiers.