SEATTLE -- Brett Anderson returned to the A's rotation for the first time since 2013 on Wednesday as the veteran lefty was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to fill the spot created by Kendall Graveman's demotion to Nashville last week.
The 30-year-old Anderson pitched his first five seasons in the Majors for Oakland from 2009-13, going 26-29 with a 3.81 ERA in 84 games, including 73 starts. But he's bounced from the Rockies to the Dodgers to the Cubs to the Blue Jays in the ensuing four years while dealing with numerous injury issues before agreeing in March to a Minor League deal with the A's.
Right-hander Emilio Pagan was optioned to Nashville to make room for Anderson, who is scheduled to start Wednesday's 7:10 p.m. PT game against the Mariners.
Anderson has gone 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings in four starts for Nashville, with 25 strikeouts and just two walks.
A's manager Bob Melvin would love to see Anderson follow in the footsteps of Trevor Cahill, who made his own return to Oakland recently and has gone 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts. Cahill pitched from the A's in 2009-11 and re-signed with Oakland this year.
"We'd like to see [Anderson] pitch in the fashion that Cahill has for us and that's kept us in every game," Melvin said on Tuesday. "Nowadays with starters not pitching as deep into games as you've seen in the past, if you can get six innings and keep your team in the game, you've done your job. So if he can do similar to what Cahill has been doing, we'll be pleased."
Having Cahill and Anderson together again is an interesting development.
"For them, there's a comfortability knowing there's a guy you've been with before and you're coming full circle," said Melvin. "I think it makes it that much more comfortable for Brett to come in here and have somebody he knows."