Athletics shuffle bullpen after 4 consecutive blown saves
OAKLAND — The Athletics shipped out three members of the shakiest bullpen in baseball Thursday and replaced them with three fresh faces.
Veterans Domingo Acevedo and Jeurys Familia were designated for assignment, with Adam Oller optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Called up from Las Vegas were Austin Pruitt, Rico Garcia and Spencer Patton.
The A’s, 6-25, have had relievers charged with a blown save for the last four games preceding a getaway day game against the Seattle Mariners — the first time that’s happened since the stat was instituted in 2004. The bullpen is 3-for-12 in save percentage, the lowest in baseball, and has a 7.07 ERA which is the highest in the majors.
“This change, it doesn’t come as a surprise,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “My message a couple of weeks ago was we’re going to do everything in our power to keep this group together and fight through this and we’re still going to fight through this. But I think this is a point where the failure has impacted the timeline to make change.”
Acevedo was one of the A’s most reliable relievers last season, with a 4-4 record in 70 games and a 3.46 earned run average. He had a 10.61 ERA in nine appearances this season including a stint on the injured list with back stiffness.
Familia was 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA in 14 games. He walked 13 batters.
Oller was roughed up Wednesday night in a 7-2 10-inning loss during which he gave up three-run home run to Eugenio Suarez, a game the A’s led 2-1 after eight innings.
Garcia, who pitched in six games with the Baltimore Orioles last season, was 0-1 with a 2.03 earned run average in nine games with Las Vegas. Patton was 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA in six games and Pruitt 1-1 with a 2.30 in 10 games.
The bullpen issues were acute in the last two games, in which Mason Miller threw seven shutout hitless innings Tuesday night and left with a 1-0 lead and JP Sears throwing six shutout innings with a 2-0 lead Wednesday night. The A’s lost both games.
The only two relievers on the roster since the beginning of the season are Zach Jackson and Sam Moll.
The A’s have gone without defined rolls for their bullpen all season and it will continue that way until one establishes itself.
“No specific roles,” Kotsay said. “They’ll be thrown into the fire here. They were performing well in Triple-A. We’ve seen Pruitt. We know what Pruitt can do. He’s pitched in multiple roles. Rico’s a strike-thrower good breaking ball mix. Patton, we’ve seen him on the other side in Texas and we’re excited to see him pitch as well.”
INJURY UPDATES
— Reliever Trevor May has hit a “pause” in his rehab from anxiety issues that landed him on the injured list, Kotsay said. He has pitched one inning with Las Vegas since going on the IL on April 19.
— Catcher Manny Piña had a “setback” with a left wrist injury and is consulting with a doctor.
— Reliever Adrian Martinez (elbow) is scheduled for a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday.