Martinez will start Thursday in Seattle
NEW YORK — Right-hander Adrián Martínez will be recalled from Triple-A to make his second major-league start for the Oakland Athletics in Thursday’s series opener in Seattle.
Martínez, acquired in the Sean Manaea trade with the Padres, debuted May 10 in Detroit and threw 51⁄3 scoreless innings in a win over the Tigers. In 13 starts with Triple-A Las Vegas, Martínez owns a 4-3 record and 5.63 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 64 innings.
“Vegas is a tough place to pitch,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said before Wednesday’s game at Yankee Stadium. “Watching him pitch in Detroit, he threw the ball really well, threw a lot of strikes, using his sinker. He’s got a plus changeup and a slider to go with it. For us, getting him back here and giving him another look — I think we feel good about that.”
The A’s will need to make a corresponding roster move to add Martínez, but they have a rotation opening after sending left-hander Jared Koenig back to Triple-A on Sunday. Koenig made four starts for Oakland, posting a 6.38 ERA, including his MLB debut June 8. The A’s have given several rookies chances at rotation jobs; Kotsay was noncommittal on whether Martínez will receive a longer look in his upcoming stint.
“I think we’ll take it one start at a time in terms of evaluating him,” Kotsay said, “but he’s going to have his turn (Thursday) to take the ball and go out and earn these opportunities.”
Oakland traded Manaea and minor-league pitcher Aaron Holiday to San Diego on April 3 for Martínez and Euribiel Angeles, a minor-league infielder currently at High-A Lansing.
On Lowrie: Jed Lowrie started none of the A’s three games in New York and has played in just six of 18 games since June 9, when a Cleveland runner collided with his left arm as he covered first base.
“Jed’s left shoulder’s been an issue,” Kotsay said. “We’re giving him this opportunity to see if we can get his strength back.”
Lowrie entered Wednesday hitless in his past 25 at-bats and 3-for-45 over his past 14 games dating to May 30. Kotsay was asked whether the A’s have considered an injured-list stint for Lowrie.
“It’s been discussed, and we’re going to continue to discuss that as an option,” Kotsay said. “This injury has kind of lingered. Jed felt he was going to be able to manage it and get his strength back, so at this point, we’re trying to give him all that opportunity. But the IL isn’t out of the question.”
More injury news:
An MRI exam on infielder Jonah Bride’s right shoulder showed “some fluid in his shoulder joint” that is causing stiffness, A’s trainer Nick Paparesta said. Bride, who
was placed on the 10-day IL on Tuesday, received a cortisone injection to “help get the inflammation and fluid out of there,” Paparesta said. The treatment usually takes five to seven days for a response.
Paparesta said there’s “no real timetable of when (Bride will) get back to baseball activities.” Bride was injured Sunday when he collided with right fielder Chad Pinder as both pursued a flyball. Kotsay expressed optimism Bride won’t miss more than two weeks.
Reliever Dany Jiménez, on the IL with a strained right shoulder, could begin plyometric activities late this week and potentially resume throwing next week.