Brooks (0-1) took the loss against the Astros on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings.
Brooks struggled out of the gate, allowing back-to-back hits to open the contest, which would lead to two runs coming across for Houston in the first inning. However, the 34-year-old right-hander recovered nicely after the rough start, surrendering only one more run over the next six frames, which came on a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Pena. Brooks threw 21 of 28 first pitches for strikes and produced nine whiffs on the night but was unfortunately tagged with the loss due to Oakland's offense being stifled by Framber Valdez.
Bleday is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
The lefty-hitting Bleday will retreat to the bench while southpaw Framber Valdez takes the hill for Houston. Esteury Ruiz will fill in for Bleday in center field.
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Athletics' Seth Brown: Playing time trending downward
Rotowire
Brown is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
The lefty-hitting Brown has now sat out four times in five games, with three of his absences from the lineup coming against right-handed pitchers. Brown appears to be moving into more of a part-time role while Brent Rooker and Tyler Nevin have taken on more playing time at the corner-outfield spots and while Abraham Toro has gained traction at designated hitter. Brown has produced a lowly .534 OPS on the season, including a .542 mark against right-handers.
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Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Idle against lefty
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Soderstrom is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
With lefty Framber Valdez on the hill for Houston, the lefty-hitting Soderstrom will retreat to the bench. Soderstrom appears to have settled into the strong side of a platoon at first base with the right-handed-hitting J.D. Davis, who will get the starting nod Wednesday.
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Athletics' Darell Hernaiz: Transferred to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics transferred Hernaiz (ankle) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Aaron Brooks, who was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Astros. Hernaiz suffered a severe left ankle sprain last week and now won't be eligible to return until early July. Max Schuemann has since taken over as Oakland's everyday shortstop in his stead.
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Athletics' Alex Wood: Goes on IL with rotator cuff injury
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Wood (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis.
The transaction is retroactive to Monday, so Wood will be eligible to come off the IL as soon as May 28. Given Wood's long track record of injuries and history as a slow healer, however, fantasy managers who have been rostering the veteran southpaw should probably prepare for him to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Wood's shoulder issue had been bothering him during his most recent start this past Sunday in Seattle, prompting the Athletics to pull him after just two innings while his fastball velocity was down about two ticks from his season-long average. The Athletics haven't named an immediate replacement in the rotation for Wood, but Kyle Muller tossed four innings in relief of the lefty last Sunday and could be stretched out enough to step into the vacant starting role this weekend in Kansas City.
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Athletics' Brady Basso: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
The Athletics optioned Basso to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Basso was up in the majors for just one day and didn't make an appearance. The left-hander could still be needed in the Athletics rotation at some point given the big club's mounting injury list, but for now he'll report to Las Vegas. Basso was torched for nine earned runs over 2.1 innings in his lone start with Las Vegas this season but has put up a 2.84 ERA and 32:3 K:BB over 25.1 frames with Double-A Midland.
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Athletics' Hogan Harris: Moves up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Harris was optioned to Las Vegas just one week earlier, but he'll be eligible to rejoin Oakland since he'll be taking the active roster spot of Alex Wood (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Wood's injury will create an opening in the rotation this weekend in Kansas City, and if Harris isn't used in relief Wednesday or Thursday in Houston, he could be a candidate to fill the void. Harris has started in all seven of his appearances for Las Vegas this season, logging a 7.56 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over 25 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
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Athletics' Aaron Brooks: Added to roster ahead of start
Rotowire
The Athletics selected Brooks' contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Brooks will start Wednesday's game in Houston in what will be his first start at the major-league level since Sept. 13, 2019. The 34-year-old has posted a 4.57 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB in 43.1 innings this season with Las Vegas and won't make for an appealing streaming option.
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Athletics' Mason Miller: Dominates again Tuesday
Rotowire
Miller, who'd pitched just once in the previous 11 games entering Tuesday's extra-inning loss to the Astros, threw 14 fastballs of at least 100.5 mph out of his 29 pitches during his two scoreless innings, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Miller's arm was clearly fresh, and manager Mark Kotsay deployed his closer for multiple innings in the tie game as a result. Miller rewarded him by recording five strikeouts -- including of the noteworthy trio of Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena -- over his 29 pitches. The elite velocity helped Miller to his 13th straight scoreless outing and extended his career-high scoreless streak to 17.1 innings. The improved - but still inconsistent - Athletics have afforded Miller just eight save chances among his 14 appearances, but he's converted each and now boasts a minuscule 0.98 ERA and 0.65 WHIP alongside a 38:5 K:BB across 18.1 innings.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Scoreless rehab frame Tuesday
Rotowire
Alexander (ribs) fired a scoreless seventh inning in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over El Paso on Tuesday, recording a strikeout.
The left-hander had failed to record an out while giving up five total runs in his most recent rehab outing Friday, so the scoreless frame Tuesday was a particularly welcome sight. Alexander might be ready to return from his long IL stint at any moment, and perhaps Tuesday's clean outing will qualify as the final box that needed checking before the Athletics deem him ready for activation.
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Athletics' Aledmys Diaz: Five innings on defense Tuesday
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Diaz (calf) started at third base and played five innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over El Paso on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single.
Diaz picked up the first hit of his three-game rehab stint on his final at-bat of the evening, and he took another step in the right direction by logging five frames on defense for the second straight game. The veteran is likely to continue taking a day off between appearances for the moment as his ramp-up following a long layoff continues.
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Athletics' Osvaldo Bido: Sent back to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Bido to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Bido served as the Athletics' 27th man in last Wednesday's doubleheader with the Rangers. He started the second game of the twin bill and was dealt the loss after giving up four earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four across 2.2 innings in a 12-11 Rangers victory. Bido dealt with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand, so it's unclear if he'll be ready to start when his next turn through Las Vegas' rotation comes up.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Takes first loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Kelly (2-1) took the extra-inning loss against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run on one hit over one-third of an inning.
With closer Mason Miller having worked both the eighth and ninth innings, Kelly was tasked with preserving the 1-1 tie in the 10th. Jake Meyers immediately moved over inning-opening runner Trey Cabbage to third with a flyout before Kelly surrendered a walk-off single to Victor Caratini, putting a quick end to the right-hander's unsuccessful high-leverage scenario. Kelly has now allowed a total of four runs (three earned) in two of his last four outings, but he's otherwise been a fairly reliable option for manager Mark Kotsay with a 3.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a pair of holds in addition to his two wins.
Gelof (oblique) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Astros.
Gelof missed just under three weeks with an oblique strain. The second baseman returned to the No. 6 spot in the lineup, which is where he was slotting into just before the injury after starting the year batting second. He's slashing a poor .188/.250/.323 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs scored and four stolen bases over 25 contests this season. Gelof showed promise with 14 homers and an .841 OPS over 69 games in 2023, but he's still looking to get into a rhythm this year.
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Athletics' JP Sears: Pitches well in no-decision
Rotowire
Sears allowed a run on five hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Tuesday.
Sears' lone mistake was a solo home run by Alex Bregman in the second inning. While it wasn't the most efficient outing -- Sears threw 65 of 100 pitches for strikes -- it was a decent performance for a pitcher that's had few middle-of-the-road efforts so far. This was the fifth time he's allowed one or fewer runs, but he's given up four or more runs in each of his other four outings. Sears is at a 3.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB through 50 innings, and he'll carry a 3-2 record into his next start, tentatively projected to be in Kansas City.
