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The Oakland A’s placed pitcher Daniel Mengden on the injured list on Thursday due to a positive test for coronavirus last weekend, the team announced.
The A’s have been on hiatus since Sunday after someone in the team’s traveling party tested positive for the virus, but the identity of the person was not made public at the time. This news confirms that the person was Mengden, but fortunately no other players or staff members have caught it for now as everyone has tested negative multiple times since. The right-hander is asymptomatic, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle.
General manager David Forst and manager Bob Melvin both made clear that Mengden did not break protocol in any way leading to contraction of the virus, reports Slusser, who notes that such a determination is made by MLB rather than by the team itself.
In order to be cleared for return, Mengden will need to continue to show no symptoms, and also test negative twice at least 24 hours apart. The A’s were in Houston when they learned of the test and went into isolation, and the 27 year old coincidentally lives there, so he is remaining home during his recovery, reports John Hickey of Sports Illustrated.
This season, Mengden has served as a swingman, starting when needed and otherwise working as a long reliever out of the bullpen. In four games, including one start, his numbers look like this, with solid results but shaky peripherals:
Mengden, 2020: 3.65 ERA, 12⅓ ip, 10 Ks, 7 BB, 2 HR, 14 hits, 5.56 FIP
His roster spot will go to good use in the meantime, as Oakland already needed room for new acquisition Mike Minor. The left-hander will be available out of the bullpen on Friday and is expected to start one half of a doubleheader on Tuesday, per Slusser insider Martin Gallegos.
After postponing four games during isolation protocol, the A’s are scheduled to resume play on Friday. They’ll host the San Diego Padres at the Coliseum, with Jesús Luzardo on the mound for the green and gold.
