The Oakland A’s have Matt Chapman back in the lineup, but there are still seven players on the disabled list. What’s worse, six of them are starting pitchers, which has made it difficult for the A’s to keep a full rotation cobbled together at any given moment.
Fortunately, there is more good news than bad on the injury front. In particular, there are reinforcements on the way for the beleaguered rotation, with three starters eyeing imminent returns. The furthest along is Brett Anderson, out since mid-May with a shoulder problem. He’s already made three rehab starts for Triple-A Nashville, making it into the 6th inning his last time out, and he may be ready to go already — the only question remaining appears to be whether his next outing will be one final rehab game or a return to Oakland, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle.
Next up is Daniel Mengden, who last pitched June 23 before spraining his foot. He’ll make a rehab start on Friday for Nashville, reports Slusser. In her full writeup, Slusser gives a timetable of “sometime this month” for Mengden’s return. She also notes that Trevor Cahill could start for Nashville on Sunday and should return in July from his Achilles injury, which has kept him out for a month so far. Check out that full writeup for more on what the rotation might look like (i.e., who will get demoted) once that trio is back in action.
The news isn’t quite as awesome for Andrew Triggs, but it’s still of an overwhelmingly positive nature. According to Slusser, there is no structural damage causing the arm nerve irritation that has kept him out since mid-May. Triggs described that as “really good news” to insider Jane Lee, and manager Bob Melvin expressed relief that the forearm and elbow looked good “especially with his history” of Tommy John surgery back in high school. The reports indicate it’ll still be a couple weeks before Triggs starts throwing again, but it could have been much worse.
Moving down the list, Daniel Gossett has already missed a month with a flexor strain and still isn’t throwing, says Slusser. He’s at least doing some physical rehab, but we shouldn’t expect to see him on the mound anytime soon — Slusser suggests mid/late August at best. And of course, Jharel Cotton is still out for the year after his own TJS.
Finally, one non-pitcher. Outfielder Boog Powell has been out since early April with a knee sprain, and after eight minor league rehab games he hasn’t suited up anywhere since June 21. However, Athletics Farm reported on Tuesday that Powell was “in Oakland working out with the big league club.” It’s anyone’s guess what that means for his return timetable, but that’s the latest on him. Whenever he does come back, the A’s will need to make a 40-man roster move to activate him from the 60-day DL.
Summary of the MLB disabled list:
- Anderson: finishing rehab; could return Sunday?
- Mengden: beginning rehab Friday; back in July?
- Cahill: beginning rehab as soon as Sunday; back in July?
- Triggs: shut down for two more weeks
- Gossett: out until at least mid-August
- Cotton: out for season
- Powell: working out with MLB team
Best of luck to all the injured A’s in their recoveries!