The back end of the Athletics bullpen is hurting as they open a three game series Friday night in Atlanta.
Mason Miller is coming off his first blown save, giving up a home run to Jose Siri in a 6-5, 12-inning road loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. That will probably mean Miller is off limits against the Braves, which is a problem since the A’s second-best reliever Lucas Erceg was placed on the injured list.
Erceg reported stiffness in his forearm and was sent back home to be medically evaluated, A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reports after Thursday night’s loss.
The right-hander from Campbell was 2-2 with two saves, a 2.86 earned run average in 21 relief appearances. He had 27 strikeouts in 22 innings and has held opponents to a .182 batting average.
In games in which the A’s used Erceg in a set-up role preceding Miller and both pitched, the A’s are 8-2.
The A’s called up Dany Jimenez to replace Erceg, and also optioned Tyler Ferguson to Las Vegas and called up Brady Basso. Jimenez began the season with the A’s but was optioned to Las Vegas on May 7 after walking 13 batters in 14 2/3 innings.
In eight appearances in Las Vegas, Jimenez walked five in nine innings but struck out 12 and held opponents to a .138 batting average.
After his first blown save with the game-tying shot to Siri, Miller gave credit to the hitter.
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“That’s where I was trying to go,” Miller told MLB.com. “Looking back over it, I wish I had went somewhere else, obviously. … I felt like I got it in there, but not far enough. Good swing.”
Miller threw 32 pitches, 23 of them for strikes. The pitch count ties him for the highest he’s had this season in 20 appearances. After missing a big chunk of the 2023 season with a UCL strain, Miller has pitched in back to back games only once this season in attempt to get him through the season healthy.