Right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray has been scratched from tonight's start due to food poisoning, the club announced today. Left-handed pitcher Rich Hill will start tonight for the A's against the White Sox.
Hill will be making his first career Opening Day start and will become the A's 10th different Opening Day starting pitcher in the last 11 years. He will be the fourth oldest pitcher to start an opener in Oakland history, behind Tom Candiotti (1998), Dave Stewart (1995) and Bob Welch (1993). Hill will be making his fifth start over the last seven years, with the previous four coming last year with Boston. The 36-year-old left-hander began the 2015 season at Triple-A Syracuse in the Washington organization and finished it by going 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in four September starts with the Red Sox. Hill went 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in four starts this spring.