"The A's have one item nearly crossed off the list before they head to spring training: It appears that right-hander Brandon McCarthy will be the Opening Day starter in Tokyo.

Manager Bob Melvin said during a media session at the A's FanFest on Sunday that it will be McCarthy and Bartolo Colon pitching in that series March 28-29, and he hinted that that might be the order. McCarthy set a franchise record for strikeout-to-walk ratio last season, and he is the team's top healthy returning starter."