Notes: Fiers to IL; Smith back; injury updates

Prior to Saturday’s game against the Rays, the A’s placed Mike Fiers on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 7 with a sprained right elbow. The right-hander felt discomfort in the elbow following his previous start against the Blue Jays on Thursday and consulted with the A’s training staff.

An MRI on Friday revealed that Fiers had fluid and inflammation built up around the elbow from an old ligament injury he sustained earlier in his career.

“We’re gonna shut him down for a few weeks before we re-evaluate that elbow and see how it’s doing,” A’s head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said. “We felt it was best to give him some time off.”

Returning from a lumbar strain that landed him on the IL to begin the season, Fiers went 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in two starts.

Right-hander Burch Smith (groin strain) was reinstated from the 10-day IL and assumed Fiers’ spot on the active roster. Smith appeared in a game for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings.

With an off-day on Monday, the A’s could get through their next turn in the starting rotation on regular rest, though manager Bob Melvin said calling up a starter from the Minor Leagues is also on the table.

“It’s an option,” Melvin said. “I do like giving starters an extra day. It’s not totally my decision. We’ll talk as a group going forward.”

Injury notes
• Chad Pinder (left knee sprain) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

• Jesús Luzardo (left hand fracture) took part in a light throwing session from 60 feet on Friday. The A’s hope to get the left-hander throwing off a mound in the next week, with the end of May as a possible target date for a return to action.

• Left-hander A.J. Puk (biceps strain) threw a simulated game in Las Vegas on Friday. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A in the next week.