Tanner Anderson rejoins A's; Martini optioned

HOUSTON -- A somewhat stretched A's bullpen received a reinforcement on Tuesday when the club recalled right-hander Tanner Anderson from Triple-A Las Vegas. Outfielder Nick Martini was optioned back to Las Vegas, after a one-day stint in the big leagues.

Anderson, who was scheduled to start for the Aviators on Tuesday, received call from his Triple-A manager, Fran Riordan, Monday night to let him know he had a flight to Houston booked for early the next morning.

The Aviators were off Monday, and Anderson had decided to cross one item off his recreational to-do list and visit the Vegas strip for the first time. He kept up with the A's game updates on his phone, but because he wasn't tracking the box score that closely, he wasn't initially privy to how quickly the game unraveled. Starter Homer Bailey lasted just two innings, requiring a robust effort from the relievers.

"Shortly after that, I got a call," Anderson said. "I said, 'Oh, that makes sense.'"

Over two games, the A’s bullpen absorbed 11 1/3 innings, with the bulk of the work going to lefty Wei-Chung Wang, who threw a total of 80 pitches -- 30 Sunday and 50 on Monday.

Righty Brian Schlitter stabilized things with three innings in Monday's loss, but that did not change the reality that the A's needed a fresh arm.

“We used our longer guys yesterday so we prepared for that,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Tanner, being a starter, is able to do that. That's why he's here today.”

Anderson joins the A's for the second time in 2019. He was 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA over five starts during his first stint from June 10 to July 4. After rejoining the Aviators' rotation, he won both starts, allowing three runs (two earned) across a combined 10 1/3 innings.

Overall, the 26-year-old right-hander has a 5.54 ERA over 13 games -- 12 starts -- with the Aviators. He last pitched on July 17 vs. Tacoma, walking five over five scoreless innings.

Martini's time with the A's was brief, but eventful. The outfielder was called up prior to Monday’s game to replace left-handed starter Brett Anderson, who is expected to miss three games on paternity leave.

Martini was 0-for-2 after entering the game early in the A's 11-1 blowout loss to the Astros, and he also pitched the eighth inning, walking two and striking out one in a scoreless effort.

Manaea on track for Wednesday
Left-hander Sean Manaea is scheduled to make a rehab start for Las Vegas on Wednesday, and as previously speculated, could reach a pitch count of around 75 as he inches closer to joining the A’s rotation.

Manaea will likely be pushed to around 90 pitches in a third and final rehab start, and if that goes well, he could be back with the A’s by the end of the first week in August.