OAKLAND — Left-hander Cole Irvin, the Athletics’ most constant starter of late, is experiencing shoulder tightness and the membership has Zach Logue on the town to journey to Minnesota in case he’s wanted to step in.
“After his final begin he had somewhat little bit of normal soreness,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned Wednesday earlier than the A’s concluded a six-game homestand in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays. “He threw yesterday so we’re evaluating him immediately when it comes to that soreness and we’ll have a plan primarily based on how he feels and determine that tomorrow in the course of the off day.”
In Irvin’s final begin in opposition to Cleveland on Saturday, he gave up one earned run in six innings and had no choice in a recreation the A’s ultimately misplaced 3-1 to the Cleveland Guardians.
Irvin is 2-1 with a 2.93 earned run common and was the one starter as much as par within the final flip within the rotation to pitch properly. Heading into Wednesday’s recreation, the beginning 5 on the homestand of Frankie Montas, Irvin, James Kaprielian, Daulton Jefferies and Paul Blackburn had a 7.65 earned run common. Montas begins for the A’s to shut out the homestand earlier than an off day and an eight-game highway journey to Minnesota and Detroit.
Kotsay declined to be particular relating to the analysis course of for Irvin and if medical checks are concerned equivalent to an MRI.
Whereas Irvin hasn’t been dominated out of Friday’s begin, Logue’s presence means there’s an opportunity he may skip a flip. Logue has 5.63 earned-run common in Triple-A with the Las Vegas Aviators in 16 innings with no choice. Logue was up with the A’s earlier this season and obtained his first main league in reduction on April 19. He was acquired within the deal that despatched Matt Chapman to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The A’s will even look to Las Vegas for a starter on Might 10 once they play a doubleheader in opposition to the Detroit Tigers.
SMITH’S SLAM
The tip consequence was a buzzkill, however that didn’t cease Kevin Smith’s cellular phone from blowing up after hitting first-inning grand slam Tuesday evening in opposition to the Blue Jays. The blast gave the A’s a 5-1 lead. Oakland took a 5-3 lead into the ninth, however misplaced 10-7 in 10 innings when Kirby Snead and Lou Trivino imploded within the ninth and tenth innings.
Smith, who like Logue arrived from Toronto within the Chapman commerce, had a house run final season for the Blue Jays. The grand slam was his first.
“You at all times dream about hitting a type of within the huge leagues, proper,” Smith mentioned. “It was good to come back up huge after we wanted it. We simply didn’t execute late within the recreation after we had just a few different alternatives. That occurs generally.”
Smith, 25, is hitting .233 with a house run and 6 RBIs. He missed a while with an ankle damage, however has the type of place versatility Kotsay likes to have on the roster.
“I like the athleticism, his means to play brief, play third, play second. And he’s obtained a method about him that I like,” Kotsay mentioned. “He carries himself as a professional for a younger participant and that’s one thing that caught my eye instantly.”
Moderately than contemplating being a part of the Chapman deal a burden, Smith embraces it.
“From my perspective, it’s fairly cool to be concerned in a commerce for any individual like Chapman, understanding what he’s meant to this staff and understanding how properly he’s performed the place for therefore a few years,” Smith mentioned. “Aside from that, it’s simply going out and taking part in baseball. You’ve obtained to type of throw it out and get again to taking part in baseball.”
THE LINEUP
Smith was within the lineup batting eighth at shortstop with veteran Elvis Andrus getting the day without work.
“We’re persevering with to try to handle the workload for guys, and he being one of many veteran guys, we’re doing our greatest to present him his relaxation, particularly with the off day tomorrow,” Kotsay mentioned.
Tony Kemp 2B
Sheldon Neuse 3B
Jed Lowrie DH
Sean Murphy C
Stephen Piscotty RF
Chad Pinder LF
Kevin Smith SS
Cristian Pache CF
Frankie Montas P