Estrada undergoes procedure for back pain
OAKLAND -- Marco Estrada will be eligible to come off the 10-day injured list this weekend, but it is going to be a while longer before he gets back on a mound for the A’s.
The right-hander is still experiencing pain from his lumbar strain, and he underwent a minimally-invasive ablation procedure on his back on Tuesday. The procedure uses radio-frequency waves to help provide relief for chronic back pain. In Estrada’s case, the procedure is supposed to help alleviate discomfort in his lower back by desensitizing the nerves in his lumbar spine.
“It could help speed up the recovery in regard to the fact that it could get him back pitching quicker because he would not have the pain,” A’s head trainer Nick Paparesta said. “He doesn’t have any weakness, it’s just pain and discomfort in the joints.”
Estrada will be shut down from all baseball activities for the next seven days, and there is no specific timetable for his return. The A’s will have a better idea once he starts throwing off a mound again and facing hitters.
“It’s still kind of undetermined,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s dealt with this before, so maybe with another guy, you might say it would be a longer period of time to be out. It just depends on how he feels after this.”
Before the injury last week, Estrada was 0-2 with a 6.85 ERA and a .242 batting average against in five starts. He pitched well in his first three outings, posting a 2.76 ERA, but he took the loss in each of his last two starts as he allowed 13 runs on 14 hits in 7 1/3 innings.
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The A’s will keep Chris Bassitt, who impressed with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings in Monday’s win over the Rangers, in the starting rotation to fill Estrada’s spot.
Trivino dealing with thumb issue
Right-hander Lou Trivino injured his right thumb playing catch before Sunday’s loss to the Blue Jays and has been held out of game action since. He sustained a cut on the thumb when the thumbnail was bent back after getting hit with a ball while playing catch.
Melvin said Trivino would be unavailable for Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers, and the club is still deciding whether to put him on the 10-day injured list.
“We’re trying to figure out how long this is going to be. Kind of in a holding pattern with him right now,” Melvin said. “He’s that important to where if you think he’ll be able to pitch before a 10-day period, you try to hold off as long as you can. We’ll see where he’s at after the off-day.”
Trivino has been dominant as the A’s setup man to closer Blake Treinen, compiling a 1.42 ERA over 12 appearances with 16 strikeouts and only one walk in 12 2/3 innings.
Jackson throws sim game
Right-hander Edwin Jackson, a key piece from the A’s 2018 run to the postseason who was signed to a Minor League deal earlier this month, pitched in a simulated game at the team’s Spring Training facility in Arizona on Tuesday. He threw about 70 pitches, and the next step is to move him to Triple-A Las Vegas at some point in the next week.
Jackson shined with Oakland, his Major League-record 13th big league club in 16 seasons, by going 6-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 2018. The A’s won 14 of his 17 starts.