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Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers lost most of 2021 to injury, but his season might not be over.
The right-hander is making a rehab start Tuesday night for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. It will be his first appearance in a game since May. He’s currently on the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right elbow.
Fiers has made two starts for the A’s this summer. After missing the first month of the year to a lumbar strain and hip inflammation, he tossed six quality innings on April 30, but then got knocked around on May 6 and went on the injured list again, this time for his elbow. Fortunately there was no structural damage, and he resumed throwing in August.
Whether Fiers will return to the majors this season is yet to be determined, but it hasn’t been ruled out by the team. Even if he does, a bullpen role could be likely since it takes time to stretch out into a starter’s workload. Either way, for now he’s at least getting back in action after four months of recovery.
Chapman out of lineup
Third baseman Matt Chapman is out of the lineup again tonight.
On Saturday, Chapman fouled a ball off his left foot/shin and exited the game. He didn’t play Sunday, then the team was off Monday, and now he’s out of the starting order again Tuesday. Josh Harrison is playing 3B in his place.
Manager Bob Melvin said Chapman is feeling “a little better,” per Matt Kawahara of the S.F. Chronicle. “Just still kind of locked up and not moving around really well. Hoping we get some progress here soon,” said Melvin.
Bassitt bullpen
Starter Chris Bassitt resumed throwing off flat ground last week, just three weeks after being hit in the head by a line drive and having facial surgery. Click here for more on that development.
Now Bassitt has taken another step forward, as the right-hander threw a bullpen session on Saturday. Watch below!
So great to see Chris Bassitt throw a bullpen session today. And he had quite the audience! pic.twitter.com/MNQdSBBRAh
— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) September 11, 2021
From another angle:
Chris Bassitt is throwing a bullpen session at the Coliseum right now. His first time throwing off a mound since the injury in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/Ev4Z1pEWca
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) September 11, 2021
“Like riding a bike. Obviously good to get back up on there, but yeah it was good,” said Bassitt about getting back on the mound, per Kawahara. He threw 30 pitches and also took part in some defensive drills.
Bassitt is traveling with the team and will throw another bullpen session during their current stop in Kansas City, reported insider Martin Gallegos last weekend.
Bob Melvin says Chris Bassitt would only need to be built up to about three innings in order to make a start before the end of the season: "Knowing him, he’s gonna show up for some games. Plotting it out, towards the end, he might be able to give us significant innings."
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) September 11, 2021
Here’s the updated injury report:
- RHP Trevor Rosenthal, OUT FOR YEAR, entire body (thoracic outlet, hip labrum)
- OF Stephen Piscotty, OUT FOR YEAR, wrist (had surgery 8/27)
- RHP Mike Fiers, 60-day IL, elbow (no structural damage; minor league rehab 9/14)
- RHP Chris Bassitt, 10-day IL, face (had surgery 8/24, resumed throwing)
- DH Mitch Moreland, 10-day IL, wrist (maybe out for year?)
- 3B Matt Chapman, day-to-day, foot/shin (out of lineup 9/14)
