Gray OK after illness, Graveman now sick
Gray OK after illness, Graveman now sick
Sonny Gray was back at the Coliseum on Tuesday after a bout of what the A’s now believe to be stomach flu, and another starter, Kendall Graveman, was out with a similar ailment.
Gray will start on Wednesday against the White Sox.
Graveman is scheduled to pitch against Chicago in the final game of the series Thursday, and manager Bob Melvin said he believes Graveman will be able to make that start.
With four or five team members becoming ill over the past few weeks and recent opponents, including the Giants and White Sox, dealing with the same issue, trainer Nick Paparesta addressed the team before batting practice to go over precautionary measures, including frequent hand washing.
Gray said he became ill early Monday morning, and though he needed four IV bags of fluids, he did try to lobby to make his scheduled Opening Day start.
“I was getting fluids and IVs, trying to get some energy and hydration back, then they told me I wouldn’t pitch,” he said.
Gray had started the previous two Opening Nights for Oakland.
“It was really unfortunate timing,” he said.
Gray’s fiancée, Jessica Forkum, also required IV fluids Monday, but their 1-year-old son, Gunnar, is fine, Gray said.
Other A’s felled by the possible flu in the past two weeks: coach Mike Aldrete, closer Sean Doolittle and utility player Eric Sogard.
Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter held in an Iranian prison for 18 months until his release in January, is an A’s fan and threw out the first pitch on Tuesday. …
Wednesday at the Coliseum, Henderson Alvarez will throw to hitters for the first time since his 2015 shoulder surgery.
Alvarez, a 2014 All-Star with the Marlins, could be ready to pitch in the big leagues by mid- to late May.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Coco Crisp got his first start of the season Tuesday; he’s one stolen base shy of 300 for his career.