With postseason chances hanging by a thread, how will the A’s make due without Andrus and Lowrie?
Every big league team must manage impactful injuries and losses, but the Oakland A’s have endured some of the more brutal injuries (and suspensions) throwing way off kilter their postseason pursuit.
Shortstop Elvis Andrus’s fractured left fibula and Jed Lowrie’s sprained hand will eliminate them from the remainder of the season and add to a litany of momentum-shifting injuries. The A’s season began to fall off track with Mark Canha’s hip injury in June, then Ramón Laureano’s 80-game PED suspension and Chris Bassitt’s facial fracture after taking a line drive to the face. With just a handful of games left and postseason hopes hanging by a thread, how will the A’s make up for the roster holes?
Elvis Andrus’s absence; who fills in?
Andrus fractured his left fibula while running home to score the game-winning run in Saturday’s win against the Houston Astros. He’s in crutches and a boot, and will return to his home in Dallas to see specialist Dr. Keith Meister.
An ironman of sorts, 33-year-old Andrus played strong defense for 146 games at shortstop in his first year with the A’s. Though his bat took a few months to warm up, he had a spectacular September, batting .338 with a .405 OBP.
Oakland has enough depth to fill the Andrus-sized void. Manager Bob Melvin said Josh Harriosn — who can play infield and outfield — will slot in at shortstop for most of the remainder of games. Harrison wasn’t in the A’s lineup to begin a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Monday, banged up after fouling few pitches off his leg in a 13-pitch at-bat against Houston on Friday and hurting his knee diving for a ball at shortstop on Sunday.
Recently-recalled Vimael Machin was slotted in the shortstop role. Chad Pinder could also play some shortstop, he has primarily played against left-handed pitching, but is warming up at the plate and is strong defensively.
With two of the A’s three utility players (Tony Kemp the other) potentially assigned to more regular roles, the A’s called up outfielder Luis Barrera as added depth on Monday afternoon. Relief pitcher Michael Feliz, who made one appearance as an Athletic after being claimed on waivers last week, was designated for assignment.
Who will be the designated hitter?
Jed Lowrie went from sharing second baseman and designated hitter duties, to full time designated hitter to the injured list when a left hand injury kept worsening. With Mitch Moreland, at one point the go-to designated hitter against right-handers, out for the regular season with left wrist tendinitis, the A’s will start to pull other players into the DH spot.
Against lefties, Khris Davis should be the go-to DH. Canha could be slotted in as designated hitter against righties — he DH’d against Astros righty Brandon Bielak on Friday.
Who’s pitching in the Mariners series?
The A’s simply cannot afford to lose a single game if they hope to keep their postseason chances alive. Against a Mariners team they’ve lost nine straight to for a 4-12 against record and three to play.
Left-hander Cole Irvin will get the ball to start the series on Monday looking to put one solid start together against the American League West team. He is 0-4 with a 7.56 ERA and allowed 14 runs on 29 hits against the Mariners so far this year.
On Thursday, Chris Bassitt is slotted to make his second start since returning from facial surgery. Bassitt looked back to his old self in his first start with three scoreless innings recorded. His fastball hit 94 mph and he threw all of his pitches, including his looping curveball, without hesitation.
The series rounds out with Frankie Montas on the mound Wednesday night. Montas has been the A’s most consistent starter of late, posting a 2.30 ERA in July, 2.03 ERA in August and 2.61 ERA in five September starts.