Evan Scribner out for year, Oakland A's option Cody Martin to Triple-A

Oakland Athletics reliever Evan Scribner will not play the rest of this season after sustaining a torn lat muscle, manager Bob Melvin told A's beat writers before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels (Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle). Scribner was removed from Monday's game after striking out Mike Trout to lead off the top of the ninth inning.

After initially starting out as a rare bright spot in Oakland's dismal bullpen early in the season, the A's right-hander has now come to lead major league relievers in home runs allowed with 14. He has a 4.35 ERA in 60 innings pitched this season. He previously incurred a torn lat muscle in 2011 when he played for the San Diego Padres.

With Scribner out for the rest of the year, this opens up the possibility of adding another player to the 40-man roster without having to waive a player off of it. Kendall Graveman is also still counting against the 15-day disabled list and can be transferred to the 60-day disabled list to open up a roster spot. Joey Wendle might get a call up that way.

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The Oakland Athletics optioned Cody Martin to Triple-A Nashville following his first career major league start. Martin threw just three innings plus two batters and was charged with five earned runs. By optioning Martin to Triple-A, he will have an opportunity for one more start with the Nashville Sounds before the A's decide whether to recall him to the A's for the rest of September.

With Thursday's off day, the A's don't need a fifth starter until Tuesday, September 8 against the Houston Astros. Chris Bassitt, who was skipped on Monday due to shoulder soreness, could return at that point. The San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported on Tuesday that Bassitt could return "in another week or two."

The A's could call upon Sean Nolin, who has gotten up to 76 pitches in his fourth start since coming off his most recent trip to the minor league disabled list. Nolin is currently listed as Nashville's probable starter for Saturday, though the A's could reshuffle the rotation to let Nolin start in Oakland instead. Sean Nolin will be out of options next season, so it will be good to get him major league action this year.

Barry Zito is still on the minor league disabled list and has not pitched since August 5. Nashville's season ends on September 7, giving Zito little chance to recover in time to pitch for a big league club trying out its contributors for next year.