Starting pitcher James Kaprielian landed on the Athletics’ 10-Day Injured List on Saturday with inflammation in the AC joint of his right shoulder.
However, A’s manager Bob Melvin said he doesn’t believe it to be serious.
“It makes some sense to at least give him one turnaround in the rotation,” Melvin said on Saturday. “Obviously we talked about, this is a guy we want to keep healthy and when little things pop up like this, the prudent thing to do is give him a little break based on his workload this year and what it’s been in the past couple years.”
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Melvin said Kaprielian felt some discomfort after his last outing on Tuesday when he struck out six batters in 4 ⅓ innings.
The A’s are hopeful it’s only the standard 10 days for Kaprielian before he returns and with one skip in the rotation, it could be viewed as more of a rest.
“We’ll obviously be careful with him again,” Melvin said. “We don’t feel like it’s anything significant -- trying to be cautious with him.”
This season, Kaprielian has been dominant enough to where whispers of him as a possible AL Rookie of the Year candidate have begun to swirl.
Oakland Athletics
He currently is boasting a 3.24 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 72 ⅓ innings. He’s walked 27 batters and possesses a 1.16 WHIP.
The A's will call up Daulton Jefferies to start on Sunday for Kaprielian who was the originally scheduled starter against the Los Angeles Angels. He will be making his 2021 season debut.
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Jefferies had an impressive spring and actually struck out Mookie Betts in his first outing in the Cactus League.
With Triple-A Las Vegas this season, Jefferies had a 5.19 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 59 innings, good enough for a 1.29 WHIP.