So far, so good for Treinen in recovery
ANAHEIM » Oakland A’s closer Blake Treinen is making progress toward his return from the 10- day injured list because of a right shoulder strain.
Treinen threw 15 to 20 pitches off flat ground prior to the A’s opening a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said before the game.
“He let it go for the first time,” Melvin said. “We’ll probably give him a day off or so, and then maybe look to get him on a mound to throw a full bullpen. So, he feels good, and as far as the progression goes, I think we’re on a good pace for him.”
Treinen began his stay on the injured list last Friday, meaning he’ll miss this series, but would be eligible to return when Oakland opens a brief threegame homestand against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.
Treinen, who will turn 31 on Sunday, made his first All-Star team last season when he went 9-2 with 38 saves in 43 opportunities with a 0.78 ERA, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to post an ERA under 1.00, at least 30 saves and 100 strikeouts in a season.
He parlayed that into a hefty pay raise through arbitration. Treinen was awarded $6.4 million this season after earning $2.15 million in 2018, a record increase for a reliever in his second year of arbitration eligibility.
Treinen is 2-2 this season with 16 saves in 18 opportunities and a 4.08 ERA.
His ERA was at 3.31 before he surrendered three runs without recording an out in his most recent appearance, a 5- 4 win against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on June 20.
• The Angels have bolstered their lineup since Oakland came to Anaheim earlier this month and won two of three. Angels left fielder Justin Upton made his season debut on June 17 after sustaining a toe injury in a preseason game. He has three home runs in nine games since his return and batted fourth in the series opener on Thursday.
Andrelton Simmons played shortstop and batted seventh on Thursday night after missing the previous 34 games with a sprained ankle. Simmons won his fourth Gold Glove last season and was hitting .298 when he was injured, well above his .270 career mark.
“Everybody’s healthy, and it’s one of the deeper lineups in the American League,” Melvin said. “They’re going to be tough to navigate through.”
Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who batted fourth in the series opener against the A’s on June 4, batted ninth on Thursday.
Sitting on the Los Angeles bench to start the game was utility player David Fletcher, who’s hitting .294 in 76 games this season, and first baseman/ designated hitter Justin Bour, who homered twice in a 5-1 win against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
“It’s not top three or four (in the lineup) anymore,” Melvin said. “It’s all the way through.”
• Tanner Anderson started for the A’s on Thursday. He had faced just one player in the Angels lineup in his first two seasons in the majors, walking second baseman Tommy La Stella when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season and La Stella was with the Chicago Cubs.