1. LHP Dallas Braden

2. RHP Trevor Cahill

3. LHP Dana Eveland

4. LHP Brett Anderson

5. LHP Josh Outman

ROTATION ANALYSIS: RHP Justin Duchscherer, an All-Star, had hoped to be ready for the fifth game of the season, but continued elbow soreness will land him on the DL to start 2009. That means that the team's Opening Night starter is Braden, who had a solid spring after adding a nice cutter.

Sean Gallagher and Eveland were on the hot seat by the end of the spring, pushed by Anderson and hard-charging prospects like RHP Trevor Cahill. Cahill, like Anderson, is 21. LHP Josh Outman, 24, beat out Gallagher, 23, for the last spot in the rotation, and RHP Vin Mazzaro, 22, could be in the mix before long, too.

BULLPEN:

RHP Brad Ziegler (closer)

RHP Russ Springer

RHP Santiago Casilla

RHP Michael Wuertz

LHP Jerry Blevins

LHP Gio Gonzalez

RHP Andrew Bailey

BULLPEN ANALYSIS: Devine's injury means that Ziegler becomes the Oakland closer alone rather than sharing duties, but should Devine return from an elbow injury at some point this year, many scouts believe that Devine is the better fit as a classic closer-type because he throws much harder and is more of a one-inning pitcher. Ziegler is viewed a set-up man because he gets lots of grounders, so he can come in earlier when the team needs a double-play ball. He also has the ability to go more than an inning.

Springer provides much needed experience to the pitching staff as a whole -- the Alan Embree role of last season -- and Casilla kept his roster spot with a strong spring, showing lots of confidence. Wuertz is out of options and he was obtained from the Cubs for middle relief, but the left-handed portion of the 'pen is unsettled. Blevins didn't get on track during the spring, and with so much youth in the rotation, manager Bob Geren has mentioned he might like to have two long men available. Gonzalez is a fit for one, while RHP Sean Gallagher also might fit the bill. Bailey came out of nowhere to wow the team this spring, likely earning one of the final relief spots.

LINEUP:

1. CF Ryan Sweeney

2. SS Orlando Cabrera

3. LF Matt Holliday

4. 1B Jason Giambi

5. 3B Eric Chavez

6. DH Jack Cust

7. C Kurt Suzuki

8. RF Travis Buck

9. 2B Mark Ellis

LINEUP ANALYSIS: The middle of the order could swap around a lot this year as manager Bob Geren tries to maximize the team's new pop. Sweeney appears set to lead off, and Cabrera has fared best most of his career when batting second, although Suzuki and Ellis could be candidates for that role, too. During the spring, Geren had no qualms about bunching left-handed hitting Giambi, Chavez and Cust in the lineup, but he'll probably try to break that up against clubs with good left-handed relief.

When Nomar Garciaparra is in the lineup, freeing up Giambi to DH, Cust will see some time in right field. And should Daric Barton resurface to play first at any point, Cust would probably be in the outfield at that point, too.

Garciaparra and Bobby Crosby are likely to both fill in at third early in the season to give Chavez plenty of rest after his second right shoulder surgery in less than a year.

RESERVES:

C Landon Powell

INF Nomar Garciaparra

INF Bobby Crosby

OF Rajai Davis

RESERVES ANALYSIS: Crosby never had played first, second or third before this spring, and he made his position clear: He wants to play short every day, so he'd like to be traded if the A's can find a spot where he can do that. He's also making far more ($5.25 million) than usual for an Oakland bench player, so chances are the A's will try to move him at some point. He has the skills to be a decent utility player, especially at third.

Powell was a first-round pick in 2004 whose development was delayed by knee surgeries, but the team likes his defense and he has a little power.

The best defensive alignment would have Davis in center, Holliday in left and Sweeney in right, which is probably what will happen late in most games.

ROOKIE WATCH: LHP Brett Anderson, obtained in the Dan Haren trade with Arizona after the 2007 season, will open the season in the rotation, and RHP Trevor Cahill nailed down a spot, too. Both are 21 years old and have terrific stuff, lots of movement and plenty of confidence. Anderson pitched in Class AAA just in the postseason last year, and Cahill hasn't pitched beyond Class AA. Backup catcher Landon Powell is also a first-year player, but he's unlikely to get significant playing time behind Kurt Suzuki.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Justin Duchscherer (sore elbow) had minor arthroscopic surgery and will open the season on the DL. There is a chance that when he is able to throw off the mound, he will be moved into the bullpen to try to safeguard his health. He is expected to return in early May.

3B Eric Chavez (shoulder) did not play in the field in a Cactus League game until March 27, and the team is likely to take it slowly with him considering he had a setback that cost him two weeks at the start of the month.

2B Mark Ellis (shoulder) made his Cactus League debut at second March 25 and appears completely ready to go, though the A's are sure to give him plenty of rest at least early in the season.

LHP Gio Gonzalez (shoulder) went two weeks without throwing off the mound, taking him out of the running for a rotation spot, at least initially. He could wind up in Oakland's bullpen at or near the start of the season.

RHP Joey Devine (elbow) will consult with Dr. James Andrews in Alabama on April 8 about chronic elbow soreness, and there is concern Oakland's closer will require surgery to correct a ligament problem, which would likely cost him the season.

OF Ben Copeland (neck, shoulder) will open the season on Oakland's DL after running into the wall on March 16 and incurring whiplash-like symptoms. Copeland is a Rule 5 draftee from the Giants.

C Landon Powell (side) missed several days with soreness that was not considered significant.