OAKLAND — Cole Irvin will return to the Athletics pitching rotation on the upcoming road trip although his first start has yet to be determined.
“Glad to be back,” Irvin said Wednesday before the A’s wrapped up a seven-game homestand with a getaway day game against the Minnesota Twins. “Missed being with the guys.”
Irvin went on the injured list on May 2 with left shoulder tendinitis. He was a consistent starter in a rotation that has been surprisingly good, with a 2-1 record and 2.93 earned run average in five starts. He pitched five innings for the Class-A Stockton Ports Tuesday night, giving up five hits and one earned run in picking up the win in Modesto. Then Irvin threw 10 more pitches in the bullpen just to be sure.
“Really good night for Cole,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “We haven’t determined where he’s going to fall in (to the rotation) but he feels great and we’re anticipating Cole back with us.”
To prepare for Irvin’s return, the Athletics optioned Zach Logue to Triple-A Sacramento and recalled shortstop/second baseman Nick Allen. Logue made three starts while Irvin was on the IL, going 1-2 and giving up 15 hits in 16 1./3 innings, including pitching seven shutout innings in a 9-0 road win at Detroit.
Logue will not return to Las Vegas with a laundry list of details to iron out.
“He doesn’t have to work on anything,” Kotsay said. “We’re in a situation where we expect Cole back, which gives us six starters. It’s a good thing for us. Zach will stay on his turn, go back to Vegas. I fully expect Zach to be back here at some point.”
Allen, who was set to arrive from Las Vegas, gives Kotsay some manueverability for either Elvis Andrus at short or Tony Kemp at second. Infielder/DH Jed Lowrie is also playing through some back issues. The A’s will need to make another roster move when Irvin is actually activated.
After an offday Thursday, right-hander Paul Blackburn will open a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Angels, followed by Frankie Montas. Irvin could conceivably get the Sunday start, which is currently listed as “to be announced.”
NOTABLE
— Dany Jimenez, who is 7-for-7 in save opportuntiies and recorded five outs on 17 pitches in Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over Minnesota, is expected to be available Wednesday with a day off to follow.
“Dany’s a workhorse, and he’s been that throughout his career,” Kotsay said. “He likes to pitch, likes ot get the baseball. I haven’t had a chance to go out and assess his recovery, but Dany’s good.”
— The A’s have made five errors in their last five games after making just two in the previous 11 contests. Oakland’s 28 errors is the most in the American League.
— After using 38 different lineups in 38 games, the A’s used the same lineup in back-to-back games for the first time on Monday and Tuesday against Minnesota.
THE LINEUP
Sheldon Neuse, the A’s most consistent hitter, returned to the starting lineup batting second as the designated hitter after missing three games with groin tightness.
The big news for the Twins was the return of Carlos Correa, who missed 11 games with a right finger contusion. Correa, an A’s nemisis from his days with the Houston Astros, signed a contract that will pay him $35.1 million in 2022 with an opt-out following the season.
“Carlos is a veteran player, he’s a game-changer offensively and defensively,” Kotsay said. “I was looking forward to Carlos taking one more day off.”
Getting the day off, but available as pinch-hitters or defensive replacements were catcher Sean Murphy (day game after night game) and center fielder Cristian Pache, with Ramon Laureano moving from right to center.
Tony Kemp 2B
Sheldon Neuse DH
Ramon Laureano CF
Seth Brown 1B
Christian Bethancourt C
Chad Pinder LF
Luis Barrera RF
Elvis Andrus SS
Kevin Smith 3B
Daulton Jefferies P
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