Nick Kurtz not in Monday’s lineup vs. Red Sox

He’ll likely be available off the bench. Kurtz made a surprisingly quick return from the capsule sprain he suffered last month, but he’s not 100 percent. Hopefully, it will get better with time, but there may come a time at which it no longer makes sense for him to play through it.

Kurtz was lifted for a pinch-hitter with the Athletics trailing by nearly two touchdowns in the eighth inning. There was some concern after the 23-year-old on-base machine was hit by a pitch on the left forearm earlier this week. However, a precautionary MRI came back clean for any structural issues. He’s played two straight contests since the incident.

Gulp. Hopefully, Kurtz will prove to be fine after being hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s game. If not, the A’s would probably recall Max Muncy and put him at third and Tommy White at first for now.

It’s a massive relief that Kurtz appears to have avoided serious injury after he was drilled by Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval in the first inning. It’s a bit unclear whether he already underwent X-rays, but the fact that the Athletics are calling it a contusion is a massive relief. He’s presumably day-to-day heading into Thursday’s series finale.

This didn’t look good at all. Kurtz was in a great deal of pain after taking a pitch off the left arm from Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval in the opening frame. It appeared to hit him somewhere in the forearm just above his wrist. He managed to stay in the game initially before being replaced by Jeff McNeil at first base in the second inning. The 23-year-old offensive force will head for further evaluation, including X-rays, to determine whether he suffered any fractures. There should be an update his status following the contest.

Kurtz’ home run was his 21st of the season. He hit a three-run home run off Cole Sands in the sixth inning. Kurtz’ home run was his first since July 3 against the Marlins. Entering play Sunday, he was 0-for-22 with 13 strikeouts and no walks in his last six games. Kurtz is hitting .264 with a .901 OPS and 69 RBI.

Kurtz returns to the Athletics’ lineup for Saturday’s contest against the Twins following a two-week absence recovering from a thumb sprain that he suffered prior to the All-Star break. The 23-year-old on-base machine should provide a massive lift for the struggling Athletics, and fantasy managers as well, after making a lightning-quick recovery. He was off to an excellent start at the plate prior to the injury, slashing .266/.405/.497 with 61 runs scored, 20 homers, 66 RBI and seven steals in 412 plate appearances across 92 games.

Kotsay noted that might be a bit of an accelerated timeline, but Kurtz appears to be making a rapid recovery from a thumb sprain that put him on the shelf just prior to the All-Star break. The 23-year-old first baseman has begun ramping up baseball activities and it sounds like there’s a real possibility Kurtz is back either later this week or early next week.

When Kurtz was placed on the injured list on July 11th, the Athletics did not provide a timeline for his return. We still don’t have a timeline for his return, and we know that he is still unable to participate in baseball activities. The Athletics are firmly out of the playoff race, and might continue to lose ground with Kurtz out, so that might impact how aggressive the Athletics want to be in bringing him back quickly.

It’s another significant hit to the Athletics’ lineup, as Kurtz, who will also miss next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, is likely facing a multi-week absence. His departure coincides with losing Brent Rooker to season-ending knee surgery and red-hot Zack Gelof to a knee laceration within the past two weeks. The lingering thumb issue certainly helps explain the 23-year-old on-base machine’s recent downturn at the plate as he went hitless over his final 20 at-bats and was batting .145 (8-for-55) with one home run across his last 15 games. He finishes the first half slashing .266/.405/.497 with 61 runs scored, 20 homers, 66 RBI and seven steals in 412 plate appearances across 92 games. A clearer timetable should emerge soon, but fantasy managers should be prepared for an extended absence given the nature of the injury.