Athletics' Miguel Andujar: Evaluation coming Monday
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Andujar (knee) will be evaluated by the Athletics on Monday after playing for a second consecutive day for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Andujar made his rehab debut for the Aviators on Thursday and returned to the field Saturday, going 0-for-3 while playing a full game in left field during the loss to El Paso. If Andujar feels good after playing back-to-back rehab games over the weekend, he may be deemed ready for activation early in the week.
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Athletics' Seth Brown: Hits two-run homer
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Brown went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Royals.
Brown tied the game at 2-2 with his second-inning blast off Seth Lugo. The homer was Brown's fourth hit over 13 games in May -- he's batting just .138 for the month and .179 for the year. The outfielder has added a .546 OPS, four homers, 11 RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases and three doubles through 120 plate appearances. Brown's poor hitting has cost him playing time recently, with Brent Rooker picking up playing time in left field at Brown's expense. Brown can also play right field, where he's competing with Tyler Nevin for at-bats.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Bullpen session on tap
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Boyle (back) is slated to throw a "two-up" bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will take an important step in his recovery with Sunday's activity, which will see Boyle participate in separate throwing sessions with rest periods in between. If Boyle proves capable of tolerating the activity well, he could potentially be activated when first eligible Tuesday.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Takes third straight loss
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Stripling (1-8) allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out two without walking a batter over five-plus innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Royals.
Stripling has lost three straight starts, though he kept the ball in the yard and didn't walk a batter for the first time in that span. The veteran right-hander gave up two runs in the first inning and then ran into trouble again in the fifth and sixth. Stripling has a 5.19 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB over 52 innings across 10 starts this season. The Athletics' rotation has been hammered with injuries, so he's at little risk of slipping out of a starting role any time soon. Stripling is projected to make his next start at home versus the Astros.
Nevin will take a seat after going 0-for-2 with a walk in the team's 6-2 loss in the series opener Friday. Seth Brown will draw the start in right field and bat seventh against the Royals.
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Athletics' Brett Harris: Breather Saturday
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Harris is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Royals.
Harris will take a seat after he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener. The 25-year-old is in the midst of an 0-for-10 stretch at the plate. Abraham Toro will draw the start at third base and bat leadoff against Kansas City.
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Belts 10th homer Friday
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Langeliers went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks in a loss to the Royals on Friday.
It was such a miserable offensive night for the Athletics that Langeliers' 421-foot blast came with Oakland just one out away from being shut out. The backstop is hitting a stellar .368 (14-for-38) with four home runs and 13 RBI across his last 11 contests.
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Athletics' Mitch Spence: Yields one run in no-decision
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Spence did not factor into the decision Friday against Kansas City, allowing one run on four hits and no walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Spence fared well in his first major-league start after tossing his first 25.1 MLB innings out of the bullpen. The rookie right-hander generated nine whiffs over 77 pitches, the second time in four May appearances he's worked more than 70 pitches. Should Spence draw another turn in the Oakland rotation, he would be slated to face the Rockies at home.
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Out of starting lineup versus lefty
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Soderstrom is not in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup against the Royals.
The lefty-hitting Soderstrom will start from the bench as the Athletics take on lefty Cole Ragans. The 22-year-old has started in six of Oakland's last eight games, though J.D. Davis will take the field at first base Friday.
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Athletics' Hogan Harris: Sent back down
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Harris was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Harris was called up Wednesday and fired off 3.1 scoreless frames Thursday against the Astros. However, he'll go right back to Triple-A on Friday to make room for Brandon Bielak, who was acquired via trade Thursday. In 25 innings at Las Vegas, Harris owns a 7.56 ERA with 23 walks allowed.
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Athletics' Kyle Muller: Long relief candidate Friday
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Muller could follow starter Mitch Spence as a long reliever during Friday's game against the Royals, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
With the A's rotation plagued by injuries, Muller was initially an option to start Friday's series opener. However, Oakland will hand the ball to Mitch Spence -- who's gone three or more innings six times this season -- to start the contest. Still, Muller could follow Spence and see multiple innings of work if needed.
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Athletics' Mitch Spence: Drawing start Friday
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Spence will start Friday in Kansas City, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
It will be the first major-league start for Spence, who has posted a 4.26 ERA and 22:7 K:BB over 25.1 innings covering 11 relief appearances. The Rule 5 pick will be pitching on three days' rest after allowing two runs over two-thirds of an inning Monday in Houston, so he likely won't be able to pitch deep into Friday's contest. Spence has gone three-plus frames in six of his relief appearances, including a season-long 4.2-inning outing May 5 versus the Marlins. He could wind up piggybacking with Kyle Muller, who is also available to work multiple innings.
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Athletics' Ryan Noda: Starting to heat up in Vegas
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Noda is 5-for-13 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI, three walks and four runs over his last four games with Triple-A Las Vegas.
The brief but impressive stretch is in stark contrast to Noda's first eight games following his demotion, when he posted an .083 batting average (2-for-24) without an extra-base hit. The 28-year-old, who limped to a .440 OPS during his 30 games in the majors this season, could soon earn a promotion if he stays hot.
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Athletics' Daz Cameron: Enjoying torrid May in Triple-A
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Cameron is carrying a .404/.530/.827 slash line across the 66 plate appearances he's logged for Triple-A Las Vegas in May.
Fourteen of his 21 hits during that span have gone for extra-bases, while Cameron has added 16 RBI. He's also walking at a 19.7 percent clip while only striking out 13.6 percent of the time, making it a particularly impressive stretch of offensive production. However, Cameron has had similarly successful stints throughout his long minor-league career, only to struggle against big-league arms when given the opportunity. Even if he's able to break through with a promotion, Cameron would have a lot to prove to be a viable fantasy option.
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Athletics' Lawrence Butler: Makes splash in minors return
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Butler, optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs Thursday.
Butler drew the start in center field in his first minor-league game of 2024 and made an instant impact while batting second. He had a much different experience against big-league arms (.170/.273/.264), so he'll presumably need an extended stretch of success at the Triple-A level before the A's will consider bringing him back up.
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Athletics' Miguel Andujar: Knocks in three in rehab debut
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Andujar (knee) went 2-for-3 with a three-run double Thursday as the designated hitter for Triple-A Las Vegas.
Andujar was lifted for a pinch hitter late in the game, but his timing at the plate appeared to be in fine form despite an extended layoff. The multi-hit effort was reminiscent of the red-hot spring Andujar enjoyed before it was cut short by his knee injury, and the veteran may not need a long rehab assignment before getting added to Oakland's big-league roster.
