An MRI showed A’s reliever Eric O’Flaherty has irritation and inflammation in his throwing shoulder but no structural damage, manager Bob Melvin told reporters Monday afternoon.
O’Flaherty, placed on the disabled list Friday, will be shut down for the time being, and he’ll begin range-of-motion exercises to strengthen the shoulder. His absence leaves Oakland with just one left-hander currently in its seven-man bullpen, and that lefty, Fernando Abad, has shown vulnerability this season. Abad has allowed five of 11 inherited runners to score, and first batters faced are 4-for-10 with a walk.
In related news, another lefty continues making his way back to the big league bullpen. Closer Sean Doolittle is scheduled to throw two more sessions off the mound, and Melvin said Doolittle could face hitters as soon as next Monday. It stands to reason that Doolittle could head out on a rehab assignment after a couple of times facing hitters in a simulated game situation.
