And then there have been two.
The Athletics placed Opening Day starter Alex Wood on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to rotator cuff tendonitis, where the veteran left-hander will join Paul Blackburn (metatarsal stress response) and Joe Boyle (lower back strain).
In an 8-4 loss at Seattle on Sunday, Wood struck out a season-low two innings, with each manager Mark Kotsay and Wood acknowledging there was a difficulty along with his shoulder. Wood returned home for a health care provider's visit and an MRI.
It is unknown how much time Wood is predicted to miss. Kotsay is predicted to talk to the media before the A's tackle the Houston Astros within the third game of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
The A's also signed right-hander Aaron Brooks from the Las Vegas roster and promoted left-hander Hogan Harris for the second time this season. Brooks is the scheduled starter Wednesday night against Houston.
Brady Basso, a left-hander who was called up from Double-A Midland on Tuesday as a long-term “just in case” backup, was sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas. Additionally, shortstop Darell Hernaiz (ankle) was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Brooks can be just the third pitcher outside of the unique rotation to start out for the A's, joining Joey Estes and Osvaldo Bido. With Wood on the sidelines alongside Blackburn and Boyle, JP Sears and Ross Stripling were the one starters remaining on the schedule.
The 33-year-old Wood has struggled to return to form after playing an unfamiliar role as a starter and backup under Gabe Kapler with the Giants last season. He pitched five innings or more just 4 times in nine starts, with a 5.26 earned run average.
Additionally, Wood's strike zone command, a strength in his good years, was an issue. He has a 62 percent strike rate, in comparison with 68 percent in 2022 as a Giant, and has averaged greater than 19 pitches per inning. In 2021, Wood thrived by staying one step ahead of hitters and inducing early soft-contact outs, throwing just 12.7 pitches per inning.
Harris, 27, was called up earlier this month and pitched 5 1/3 innings against Texas on May 7. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and 4 earned runs with one walk and five strikeouts. He pitched 4 scoreless innings in his return to Las Vegas on Sunday and might be a starting candidate given the rotational injuries.
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