Athletics’ Griffin to have surgery
Athletics right-hander A.J. Griffin is scheduled to have elbow surgery Wednesday and will miss the entire season with fellow third-year starter Jarrod Parker.
“We were hoping that wasn’t going to be the case,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.
“Losing two guys like that for the entire season is a difficult blow. One’s a blow, two is tough. You move on, but you certainly have a lot of sympathy for the two guys that are having to go through that, because they’ve meant so much to this team over the last couple of years.”
Parker, who had been expected to be Oakland’s opening day starter, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow during spring training.
Melvin said he didn’t know the specifics of the surgery Griffin will have or how extensive it would be. He had spoken only briefly to Griffin.
Braves
Atlanta left-hander Mike Minor is set to pitch in the major leagues for the first time this season. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Minor will start Friday night at home against San Francisco. Minor, 26, has been slowed by shoulder soreness this season. He has pitched five times in the minor leagues during rehabilitation games at three different levels.
Yankees
Robinson Cano drew loud boos in his first at-bat at Yankee Stadium since signing a $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners last winter. Cano had a big smile when he came to bat in the first inning and gave a wink to New York pitcher CC Sabathia. The five-time All-Star struck out swinging and the fans mocked him with cheers. When Cano took his position at second base, the Bleacher Creatures didn’t chant his name, as they did for so long. Instead, they shouted: “You sold out!”
Reds
Closer Aroldis Chapman threw 25 pitches during batting practice, passing the final test before he can begin a rehabilitation stint in the minors. Chapman likely will pitch at Class A Dayton in his first time in a game since suffering a head injury. He’s hoping to be activated after four or five appearances in the minors. “It went very good,” Chapman said, with trainer Tomas Vera translating. “All my pitches were the way I wanted.”
Rangers
Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff will get a second opinion before having a herniated disk in his lower back surgically repaired. While giving several injury updates, Texas assistant general manager Thad Levine also said second baseman Jurickson Profar had an MRI and can start swinging a bat. Profar tore a muscle in his right shoulder during spring training.
Tigers
Catcher Alex Avila was scratched from the lineup against the Chicago White Sox because of lower back spasms. Avila was slotted to bat eighth before he was replaced by Bryan Holaday.
Elsewhere
The game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins was postponed due to rain.