I am backing the Oakland A's and Paul Blackburn in this one.

The 23-year-old right-hander is making his Major League debut, as he steps into the rotation in place of Jharel Cotton, who is battling a blister issue.

This is a kid who has always had to rely on hitting his spots, so working relentlessly on focusing in on the zone has helped. Blackburn, who is 5-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 79.2 innings for Triple-A Nashville this season, hails from California and will have plenty of support in the stands for his big day.

He's shown a knack for preventing runs, despite not being a strikeout pitcher. His pitchability and poise on the hill are his strong points. The guy induces outs, and he'll surprise Braves hitters with his average - but effective - arsenal.

Take the A's here and list Blackburn as your Oakland A's starting pitcher.