Left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty returns to the Oakland Athletics for this week's road trip following a disabled list visit lasting exactly one month for shoulder inflammation. The A's optioned right-handed reliever Angel Castro to Triple-A Nashville to clear space on the active roster.
The A's waited for O'Flaherty to become pain free, and is quoted as saying, "The shoulder feels good now," by John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group. The left-hander got off to a rough start in the regular season with an 11.57 ERA in seven innings pitched. However, six of the nine earned runs he has allowed came in his last three appearances before going on the disabled list May 1.
O'Flaherty, 30, returns to the A's after making two rehabilitation appearances between the Triple-A Nashville Sounds and High-A Stockton Ports. He tossed an inning for Nashville on May 27, making 14 pitches, facing five batters, and allowing two hits. On May 30, O'Flaherty pitched an inning, making 12 pitches, facing four batters, and allowing a triple that scored an unearned run.
Angel Castro, 32, returned briefly to the A's bullpen after Sean Doolittle went back to the disabled list on May 30. Castro made no appearances during a period of extremely impressive starting pitching performances.