A’s injuries: Trevor Rosenthal throwing soon, but Mike Fiers will visit Dr. Andrews

The Oakland A’s injured list has dwindled in recent weeks as several players have returned to health, but there are still a couple of notable pitchers out of action. Two of them got updates this week, but they’re headed in opposite directions.

The news for reliever Trevor Rosenthal is good. The intended closer hasn’t pitched this season due to thoracic outlet surgery, but he “began some baseball activities [Tuesday] and could start a throwing program in the next few days,” reports Matt Kawahara of the S.F. Chronicle citing the team’s trainer.

However, the latest word isn’t as cheery for Mike Fiers. The usually durable right-hander missed the first month of the season to a lumbar strain, then made two starts in early May and went down again due to an elbow strain. He “started throwing 10 days ago and felt discomfort again” and will visit Dr. James Andrews this week, reports Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News. Baseball fans know that Dr. Andrews’ name is synonymous with Tommy John surgery.

Analysis: Oakland’s rotation has been excellent this year and leads the majors in innings even without the workhorse Fiers, and there is still depth available in the minors if he can’t return. The bullpen could desperately use more late-inning help, though, and a strong return from Rosenthal would be an enormous and well-timed boon.

On the position player side of the injured list, RF Stephen Piscotty had a cortisone injection in his sprained left wrist on Monday and will “be down a few days,” reports Rubin. He’s on the IL retroactive to June 16.

Here’s the updated injury report.

• RHP Mike Fiers, 60-day IL, elbow (visiting Dr. Andrews 6/23)
• RHP Trevor Rosenthal, 60-day IL, thoracic outlet surgery (begin throwing late-June?)
• RHP J.B. Wendelken, 10-day IL, oblique (began AAA rehab 6/17)
• OF Stephen Piscotty, 10-day IL, wrist (cortisone shot 6/21)