Scratch that: Daulton Jefferies goes on injured list, won’t start for A’s on Saturday

The Oakland A’s had planned to start rookie pitcher Daulton Jefferies on Saturday, but it turns out that won’t happen after all.

The A’s place Jefferies on the 10-day injured list this afternoon, with the diagnosis of right elbow ulnar neuritis. They called up lefty reliever Sam Moll to replace him on the roster.

Jefferies, one of the team’s top pitching prospects, has spent September in Oakland’s bullpen. Two days ago, they announced he would make a start on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, while fellow rookie James Kaprielian would move to the bullpen after incurring a relatively heavy workload this summer.

Now that plan has changed. Jefferies is out for the moment, and Kaprielian will stay in the rotation and start Saturday. More details, per Matt Kawahara of the S.F. Chronicle:

Bob Melvin on Daulton Jefferies’ elbow issue: “We don’t feel like it has anything to do with the ligament. It’s just more irritation in the nerve.”

In the bullpen, Moll has made four appearances for the A’s this season, tossing 4⅔ scoreless innings.

Bassitt sim game

Elsewhere on the pitching staff, injured starter Chris Bassitt threw two simulated innings on Saturday, as he works his way back from facial surgery. He threw 30 pitches with a teammate batting and no protective screen in front of him, reports Kawahara.

The next step for Bassitt is to throw another bullpen on Monday, reports Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News, who adds this quote from manager Bob Melvin:

“Didn’t look any different to me than when he was pitching a month ago. Stuff looked good, all his breaking stuff was crisp. But it’s day-to-day in how he feels tomorrow.”

This is the fourth time Bassitt has thrown since being hit in the head by a line drive last month. Just over a week ago he resumed throwing with a flat-ground session, then he did two bullpen sessions last week, leading up to today’s sim game.

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 (next AAA rehab on 9/18)
• RHP Chris Bassitt, 10-day IL, face (had surgery 8/24, resumed throwing)
• DH Mitch Moreland, 10-day IL, wrist (maybe out for year?)