Expect the A's lineup to change around the All-Star break

The Oakland Athletics faced a very strong possibility of sweeping a series on the road last Thursday but all they could do was lose a no-run-scored game 9-0 to the Detroit Tigers inside Comerica Park. Sheesh...

Some of that, at least partially, could be blamed on the players the A's were missing in the series finale against Detroit as they could deploy none of outfielder Esteury Ruiz nor first-baseman Ryan Noda.

Ruiz was able to steal an MLB-leading and franchise-rookie record 43rd base on Wednesday, but he injured his right shoulder after that. The freshman, in his second year playing with the MLB squad, was removed from Wednesday's game in the seventh inning and missed Thursday's matchup entirely.

The center fielder of the A's is expected to have an MRI today so the franchise knows more about his status and the impact of his injury going forward.

For his part, Noda was left out of Thursday's lineup with an illness, although according to information obtained by ESPN, he could have been able to "pinch hit in a closer game," which bodes well for the rookie entering the series against the Red Sox before the All-Star break.

On a final update, outfielder Ramon Laureano has already started to swing the bat in practice, again according to ESPN.

The last news we heard from Laureano arrived late in June when we reported, by way of Sam Warren of the San Francisco Chronicle, that Laureano would be out "for a few more weeks" in a quote shared by A's manager Mark Kotsay back on June 27.

According to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com, Laureano's injury was caused by a pitch thrown into his left hand in a game against the Brew Crew earlier in June, contrary to the initial reports talking about Laureano getting to the IL because of a right-hand injury.

Laureano wasn't expected back on the lineup before the All-Star festivities, so this is not really anything breaking in terms of a speedier recovery or Laureano suffering any setback. Everything is looking good on his side, so it's just a matter of time to watch him back on the field.

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