OAKLAND -- A's reliever Fernando Rodriguez was placed on the disabled list on Monday after leaving in the eighth inning of Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Pirates alongside a trainer with a right shoulder strain.
Oakland also optioned left-handed pitcher Daniel Coulombe to Triple-A Nashville, recalled right-handed pitcher Andrew Triggs from Nashville and selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Patrick Schuster from Nashville. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, outfielder Andrew Lambo was recalled from Nashville and placed on the 60-day DL.
The A's called on Rodriguez to start the eighth on Sunday, but he faced only two batters, departing with one out during an at-bat against Jordy Mercer. A team trainer and manager Bob Melvin visited the mound and removed the righty after a brief conversation. He was seen trying to stretch out his right arm prior to their visit.
Melvin said there was no indication anything was wrong with Rodriguez's shoulder prior to Sunday's outing.
Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 33 appearances this year, and had allowed 12 runs in his last seven games entering Sunday. Melvin said Rodriguez worked in the bullpen this week to sort through some of his struggles and it appeared he had "better stuff" Sunday before the injury.
Oakland already lost one reliever in the past week, placing Sean Doolittle on the disabled list Thursday with a strained left shoulder after an MRI showed labrum inflammation. The A's are in the midst of playing 20 straight games without an off-day, and have now lost four straight.