A's DFA Domingo Acevedo in Series of Bullpen Moves
With the Oakland A's bullpen unable to hold leads late this season, changes have been made to the roster ahead of Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
The team announced that they have optioned Adam Oller to Triple-A Las Vegas, as well as designating Domingo Acevedo and Jeurys Familia for assignment.
Oller is 1-1 this season with a 10.07 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched. He was tagged for five runs (four earned) in the tenth inning of Wednesday's 7-2 loss.
Jeurys Familia, 33, has issued 13 walks in 12.2 innings en route to a 6.39 ERA. He has also given up 13 hits, leading to a 2.05 WHIP while recording just nine strikeouts.
The surprise of the bunch was the Acevedo news. Last season Domingo Acevedo was extremely reliable and able to pitch just about every other day while putting up a 3.33 ERA. This season he holds a 10.61 ERA through 9.1 innings and he's been getting hit pretty consistently. His .371 expected batting average against ranks in the first percentile and his expected slugging ranks in the second.
Mark Kotsay told reporters after Wednesday's game that "Ace" has been elevating balls a little more this season and that there has been a little less swing and miss on his slider and changeup.
Through two May games A's starters have yet to allow a run in 13 innings, but the A's have gone 0-2.
Kotsay said before the game, "From a standpoint of performance and where we're at right now, this change doesn't come as a surprise. My message a couple of weeks ago was we're going to do everything in our power to keep this group together and fight through this. We're still gonna fight through this, but I think this is a point where the failure has impacted the timeline to make a change."
The three players brought up from Las Vegas to join the bullpen will not have any specific roles, per Kotsay. "They're going to get thrown in the fire here. They've been performing really well in Triple-A."
Those players are Rico Garcia, Spencer Patton, and Austin Pruitt.
Garcia holds a 2.02 ERA in 13.1 innings, has struck out 19, and saved two games.
Patton holds a 4.32 ERA across 8.1 innings, has allowed 11 hits and struck out 10. He also has two saves.
Pruitt was with the A's last season and was a long relief option at times. He had a 4.23 ERA with Oakland in 2022. In 15.2 innings with the Aviators he held a 2.30 ERA, struck out 16, and walked just five.
Notes: Manny Piña had a setback in his rehab (wrist) and has been pulled back. "There is some impingement going on. He's having a consultation today."
Kotsay on Shintaro Fujinami's role in the bullpen: "I'm not going to rule out the fact that we gotta challenge him at some point. I think that challenge could be in the near future."
Trevor May made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday with Las Vegas. Kotsay said before Thursday's game that he has had a "pause" in the process. There is currently no timeline on when he'll resume throwing.
Adrián Martínez is scheduled to throw a 35-pitch bullpen on Friday.