Oakland A’s pitching staff takes another hit with Mike Fiers

The Oakland A’s pitching staff has dealt with numerous injuries already this season. With the likes of A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo on the Injured List, as well as several key members of the bullpen, the A’s depth has been tested early. Their decision to bring Mike Fiers back in the wake of these injuries seemed to be a stroke of genius.

But now, Fiers has joined that list of the walking wounded. He has been placed on the IL with a sprained right elbow.

Oakland A’s lose another rotation option with Mike Fiers injury.

Fiers had been on the IL earlier this season, making just two starts thus far. He had not pitched well, allowing eight runs on 15 hits and four walks in 9.1 innings, striking out five while losing both starts. It was fair to wonder if something was wrong based on the results.

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The A’s expected Fiers to be a key part of the back of their rotation. Although he may not be a star, he has been a dependable starter, averaging 30 starts a year from 2015 through 2019. His ability to take the ball every fifth day without issue and provide a solid outing was important for a pitching staff that was inconsistent last year.

While it may not be much more than what the A’s are saying, a sprained elbow diagnosis is potentially ominous. There may be more than a minor injury at play, and it would not be a surprise to see Fiers undergo more testing to be certain. At the minimum, he is out for ten days, but his stint on the IL could be longer.

The A’s do have plenty of options to take over his spot in the rotation. Grant Holmes, Daulton Jefferies, and James Kaprielian could be options until Luzardo is ready to return. Although none of those arms may have much of a major league pedigree, they are essentially ready to take the next step in their careers.

The Oakland A’s pitching depth has taken another hit. Mike Fiers is heading to the Injured List with a sprained right elbow, a relatively ominous injury.