Athletics' Scott Alexander: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Athletics reinstated Alexander (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Left rotator cuff tendinitis sent Alexander to the injured list Aug. 20, and rather than heading to the minors for a rehab assignment, he'll now rejoin Oakland's bullpen following a minimum-length stay. The 35-year-old southpaw has been strong all season, and he's given up just two earned runs over 10 innings since the All-Star break. Joe Boyle was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Live BP session goes well
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Alexander (shoulder) came away from Monday's live batting practice session feeling healthy, MLB.com reports.
The veteran left-hander continued to make steady progress Monday, with the live BP session coming on the heels of a successful bullpen Friday. Alexander's next step is almost certainly a rehab assignment, with a decision on that front likely coming by Wednesday.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Taking next step Monday
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Alexander (shoulder) will face hitters Monday before a decision is made on whether he'll need a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
The veteran southpaw came away from a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday feeling healthy, leading to the decision regarding Monday's bump up in activity level. If Alexander emerges from the live batting practice session setback-free, he could conceivably skip a rehab assignment altogether, given he's only been sidelined since Aug. 20 and wouldn't need to build back up for his relief role.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Looks good in bullpen session
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Alexander (shoulder) threw approximately 20 pitches in the bullpen before Friday's game against the Rangers and looked good, the Associated Press reports.
The veteran southpaw was throwing to manager Mark Kotsay, who served as a stand-in for a left-handed hitter and therefore had a first-hand look at how Alexander performed. Kotsay said after the session that he and the training staff would evaluate Alexander's recovery from the activity over the weekend to determine the left-hander's next steps. Given his experience and the fact he's a reliever, Alexander could conceivably return from the injured list without the need for a rehab assignment.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Starting to ramp up activity
Rotowire
Alexander (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday and could face live hitters at some point this week, the Associated Press reports.
This is the first report of Alexander picking up a ball since going on the IL on Tuesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis. The veteran southpaw appears to be making timely progress overall, and if he does indeed face hitters this week without setbacks, he could potentially return when eligible without the need for a rehab assignment.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Alexander on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis.
Alexander has been a valuable member of Oakland's bullpen since he made his season debut in late May, and he's thrown 5.2 scoreless frames while striking out seven batters over his last six appearances. He'll now be held out until at least Sept. 2, and the A's will promote J.T. Ginn from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill the open roster spot.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Picks up first win Friday
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Alexander (1-2) got the victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing an earned run on a hit and a walk over one inning.
Alexander was the first reliever out of the bullpen following JP Sears' impressive six-inning start, and while the former did falter by allowing a Ketel Marte go-ahead RBI single, he was able to limit the damage to that one run. Alexander then became the beneficiary of a three-run eighth-inning rally by Oakland, which gave the A's a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Alexander posted a career-high seven wins with the Giants in 2023, but Friday's victory was his first of this season and came in an outing where he was scored upon for the fifth time in eight appearances.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Saddled with second loss
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Alexander (0-2) took the extra-inning loss against the Twins on Friday, allowing an unearned run on a hit and an intentional walk without recording an out.
Alexander's lighting-quick outing resulted in the culmination of the Twins' comeback from a pair of deficits, with the southpaw intentionally putting Carlos Correa on and then conceding a walk-off RBI single on his first pitch to Max Kepler that plated automatic runner Austin Martin. Alexander has now allowed a run in three straight appearances and taken his first two losses of the season in consecutive outings, and he may be kept out of high-leverage situations for the time being as he tries to get back on track.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Hit with first loss Tuesday
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Alexander (0-1) took the loss against the Padres on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on one hit and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.
Unfortunately for Alexander, the one hit he allowed was a walk-off solo home run to Kyle Higashioka, saddling the veteran southpaw with his first loss of the season. Alexander has now allowed an earned run in each of his last two appearances after generating four consecutive scoreless efforts of an inning apiece, but he's still carrying an acceptable 4.00 ERA and stellar 0.67 WHIP across the nine innings covering his 10 appearances.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: First hold of season Saturday
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Alexander was credited with his first hold in Saturday's win over the Astros, firing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.
Alexander got the final two outs of the eighth, inheriting a one-on, one-out situation from Lucas Erceg and retiring the dangerous duo of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez on groundouts. The veteran southpaw allowed a solo home run over two-thirds of an inning in his delayed season debut against the Rockies on Tuesday, but he's subsequently fired 1.2 scoreless, hitless frames in his next pair of appearances.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
Alexander (ribs) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Alexander was placed on the 15-day injured list at the end of March with a left rib contusion. The left-hander fired a scoreless seventh inning with a strikeout in his most recent rehab appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas. As a result of Alexander's activation, Tyler Ferguson was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move Tuesday.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Scoreless rehab frame Tuesday
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Alexander (ribs) fired a scoreless seventh inning in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over El Paso on Tuesday, recording a strikeout.
The left-hander had failed to record an out while giving up five total runs in his most recent rehab outing Friday, so the scoreless frame Tuesday was a particularly welcome sight. Alexander might be ready to return from his long IL stint at any moment, and perhaps Tuesday's clean outing will qualify as the final box that needed checking before the Athletics deem him ready for activation.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Hit hard in latest rehab appearance
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Alexander (ribs) allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman without recording an out during a rehab appearance Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas.
The veteran southpaw had fired a scoreless frame with two strikeouts against San Jose in his second rehab outing Tuesday, but Friday's appearance saw Alexander fall apart in alarming fashion. Given the results, Alexander, who threw 22 pitches Friday, may be in line for at least one more rehab appearance in order to build some momentum before being activated.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Makes first rehab start
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Alexander (ribs) started Single-A Stockton's loss to Visalia on Friday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning. He struck out one.
Alexander located 12 of his 16 pitches for strikes and came away from his first game action in nearly two months feeling good, per MLB.com. The veteran left-hander is due for another rehab appearance with the Ports on Tuesday against San Jose, and if he remains free of setbacks, his rehab assignment will move to Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Heading out on rehab assignment
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Alexander (ribs) threw live batting practice to Miguel Andujar (knee) on Tuesday and is now set to join Single-A Stockton to begin a rehab assignment Friday, MLB.com reports.
Alexander cleared his final hurdle to a return to the mound with Tuesday's activity, and when he does debut for the Ports, it will be his first game action since a March 6 Cactus League appearance against the Angels. Given the amount of time he's been sidelined, Alexander figures to need a fairly lengthy rehab assignment, even though he'll likely be utilized for no more than two innings per appearance once he's with the big-league club.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Set for live BP
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Alexander (ribs) is expected to throw live batting practice Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Alexander continues to progress in his recovery from a left rib contusion and he'll take the next step in his rehab process Tuesday. The 34-year-old has missed the entirety of the 2024 season to this point and he'll still likely have a multi-outing rehab assignment before he'll be able to return to the major-league bullpen down the road.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Takes positive step Tuesday
Rotowire
Alexander (ribs) threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
The veteran right-hander appears to be one step closer to beginning a rehab assignment following Tuesday's developments. Alexander spent over a month without throwing off a mound before starting a throwing program, so he should be in for multiple minor-league appearances whenever he is cleared for game action.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Rehab assignment close
Rotowire
Alexanders (ribs) is tracking toward starting a minor-league rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Alexander has been on the shelf since mid-March after being diagnosed with a left rib stress reaction. The veteran southpaw will probably make a handful of rehab appearances before being activated, but since he's a one-inning reliever, he won't require an extended ramp-up period.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Alexander (ribs) is projected to throw a bullpen session in coming days, MLB.com reports.
The veteran remains without a timeline for return, but the bullpen session would mark his first time throwing off a mound since spring training. Alexander was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left side in mid-March after three ragged Cactus League outings, and he'll almost certainly need an extensive rehab assignment whenever he's deemed ready to return to game action.
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Athletics' Scott Alexander: Heads to IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Alexander on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left rib contusion.
According to MLB.com, Alexander has been taking part in plyometric work since suffering the injury earlier this month, but he has yet to resume playing catch. Alexander won't require much buildup time as a matchup lefty who typically doesn't work more than an inning in his appearances, but he's still expected to be sidelined beyond the minimum 15 days.
