The Athletics pitching staff will get a bit healthier for the stretch run with the return of Luis Severino to the starting rotation.
Severino (6-11, 4.82 ERA) came off the 15-day injured list Monday after recovering from a left oblique strain. The right-hander will start Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals (68-71) in the middle game of a three-game road series.
The Athletics (64-75) routed the Cardinals 11-3 on Monday night in the series opener to snap their losing streak at three games.
Severino will be making his first appearance since a 16-7 victory over the host Washington Nationals on Aug. 5. He met the quality start metric while allowing three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings.
He is returning from his injury without making a minor league rehab start.
“He had a three-up live BP with up to 50 pitches, so I’m assuming we can take him, you know, in the 75 range and see how he feels,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “But it’s good to have him back. He’s obviously a big part of this and a big part of our future here, and you know, to see him be able to finish this season is a big plus.”
Severino has just one career start against the Cardinals and it went badly: nine runs (seven earned) allowed on nine hits and three walks in four innings in July 2023 while with the New York Yankees in an 11-4 loss.
Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz remained sidelined Monday with an oblique strain. Catcher Shea Langeliers also sat out, but he could return Tuesday.
The Athletics expanded their roster by promoting utility player Max Schuemann and right-hander Scott McGough from Triple-A Las Vegas. Pitcher Eduarniel Nunez has optioned to Las Vegas to make room for Severino.
McGough pitched two innings Monday, allowing one run on two hits while fanning three batters.
After allowing 15 hits by the Athletics on Monday, the Cardinals will seek better pitching Tuesday.
“Our staff in general, we don’t have a ton of swing-and-miss in (the strike) zone,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “You’re facing a team that is probably — not probably, they are — the most aggressive team as far as swing rate 0-0. And they’ve got guys with some pretty good power.”
They will start Miles Mikolas (6-10, 5.04), who held the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings in his last start on Thursday.
“If I can mix in the curveball, my slowest pitch, and that four-seam fastball … those two pitches play pretty good, as a far as either starting top of the zone and staying there or starting at the top and cutting under the zone,” Mikolas said. “If I can be effective mixing those two pitches effectively, that helps me a lot.”
Mikolas is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 innings over two career starts against the Athletics.
Outfielder Victor Scott II has returned from the 10-day injured list after recovering from an ankle injury. Willson Contreras remained in the lineup Monday while awaiting his appeal of a six-game suspension and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Key reliever Riley O’Brien has been sidelined by right shoulder fatigue.
–Field Level Media
