Brandon McCarthy will start on Opening Day for the A's. A's manager Bob Melvin made the announcement on Tuesday morning in camp while also revealing that Bartolo Colon will start the club's second game. The A's open their season with a March 28-29 series in Japan.

A's manager Bob Melvin hinted Sunday that Brandon McCarthy will be the Opening Day starter March 28 in Japan against the Mariners. McCarthy, Dallas Braden and Bartolo Colon are locks for the starting rotation, with Jarrod Parker, Brad Peacock and Tommy Milone amongst competitors for the final two openings.

Athletics and RHP Brandon McCarthy avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.275 million contract. McCarthy, who was arbitration-eligible for the final time this offseason, gets a nice raise from his $1 million salary from 2011 after turning in a solid 3.32 ERA and 123/25 K/BB ratio over 25 starts last season. The 28-year-old right-hander should be a solid starter in mixed leagues in 2012.

Brandon McCarthy completed his fifth game in a losing effort on Monday, allowing four runs on eight hits in eight innings of a 4-2 A's loss. He struck out six, walked none and allowed a pair of home runs. McCarthy completed at least seven innings in six of his final seven outings, and averaged over 6 2/3 innings per start this season. In 170 2/3 innings of work, he turned in a 3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 123/25 K/BB ratio while allowing only 11 home runs. Elite numbers.

Brandon McCarthy held the Rangers to just one run on six hits in seven innings on Wednesday, but got stuck with a no-decision in a 3-2 A's loss. He struck out one and issued zero free passes in his sixth consecutive quality start. One of the American League's big surprises this season, McCarthy will take a 3.26 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 117/25 K/BB ratio into his final start, which should come on Monday in Seattle.

Brandon McCarthy snapped the Tigers' 12-game winning streak by holding the club to one run in seven innings on Thursday. The club with the longest winning streak of the last 10 years -- a 20-gamer back in 2002 -- brought this year's longest streak to an end. McCarthy combined with Grant Balfour and Andrew Bailey on a five-hitter in the 6-1 game. He fanned eight, giving him 33 strikeouts in his last four starts.

Brandon McCarthy allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings on Friday, taking the loss in Oakland's 13-4 setback against the Rangers. Oakland's bullpen imploded after McCarthy's departure, allowing nine runs in just two innings. The quality start was McCarthy's fourth straight, and leaves him with a 3.39 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through his first 148 2/3 innings of work. He'll get the Angels at home next Wednesday.

Brandon McCarthy tossed a shutout Saturday in the Athletics' 3-0 victory over the Mariners. It was only the second complete-game shutout of McCarthy's career. He struck out 10 batters, walked none, and surrendered just three hits. The right-hander has now been ace-like in two straight outings and should be a must-start down the stretch in fantasy leagues. He has a 3.41 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 142 2/3 total innings this year.

Brandon McCarthy was brilliant despite picking up a loss Monday, limiting the Indians to two runs on five hits and a walk while piling up 10 strikeouts. The Tribe got to him with single runs in the sixth and the seventh, and that was all they needed. McCarthy has found his strikeout groove a bit of late, whiffing 47 over 57 1/3 post-break innings after punching out just 46 over 76 1/3 frames before the break. He'll bring a rock-solid 3.64 ERA and 1.21 WHIP into a juicy matchup against the Mariners the next time out.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Athletics and Red Sox could play a doubleheader on Saturday. Slusser cites "internal discussions" in Boston, so it's not clear if the two teams have actually discussed the possibility. It makes sense to consider a contingency plan, as Hurricane Irene is on track to hammer the East Coast this weekend. As of now, Brandon McCarthy and Erik Bedard are scheduled to start Sunday's game, though both teams would likely add spot-starters in the event of a doubleheader on Saturday.