Suddenly a rotation that was expected to be a strength is becoming something else. Oft-injured A.J. Puk's shoulder strain leaves him questionable for most if not all of the abbreviated season. His rookie compadre Jesús Luzardo (LHP, OAK) was an early COVID diagnosis, tasked now with a slow rollout from the pen, and no changes (yet) following Puk's injury. And Sean Manaea (LHP, OAK) couldn't break 90 MPH with any of his pitches in a Monday July 20 start vs. SF—a concern in the wake of an ongoing velocity slide since his 2016 MLB debut, and his own injury history.
The upshot is a club that will have to lean on Mike Fiers (RHP, OAK), Chris Bassitt (RHP, OAK) and Daniel Mentgen (RHP, OAK) more than anticipated,...
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