OAKLAND –- The A’s will have to wait until Monday to get a more specific recovery time for Josh Reddick’s thumb injury.
That’s when Reddick will visit with Bay Area hand specialist Dr. Mathias Masem to get his fractured right thumb examined. The initial diagnosis is a four-to-six week timeframe, but there will be more clarity after Reddick’s appointment. The A’s originally were hoping to get Reddick in to see Masem by Friday but couldn’t get him in until after the weekend.
Nick Paparesta, the A’s head athletic trainer, said Reddick’s fracture is on the very tip of his left thumb.
By Monday, the A’s also expect to get a better read on right-hander Henderson Alvarez’s shoulder injury. They sent MRI images to Dr. James Andrews, but Andrews was away from his office attending a conference this week.
Paparesta characterized Alvarez’s issue as shoulder fatigue.
“His range of motion is very good, his strength is very good, so right now we’re just going to treat him Asymptomatically and hold off on throwing until Andrews has a chance to take a look at that MRI on Monday,” Paparesta said. “It’s a shoulder fatigue-type thing. We’re just kind of pulling the reins backs a little bit.”
[STIGLICH: A's place Reddick on 15-day disabled list]
In other injury news, second baseman Jed Lowrie (shin contusion) is expected to join Triple-A Nashville and play one or two rehab games before potentially being activated from the disabled list Wednesday. Melvin is pointing toward Lowrie’s return because he views the veteran switch hitter as a good fill-in as the No. 3 hitter in Reddick’s absence. Danny Valencia is hitting third Friday against the Yankees, but the A’s would prefer Valencia in the cleanup spot.
Catcher Josh Phegley (right knee strain) was en route to joining Nashville on Friday. He will play four or five games with the Sounds, alternating between catcher and DH starting Saturday, before rejoining the A’s 25-man roster.
Reliever Liam Hendricks (triceps strain) received a cortisone injection to help relieve the discomfort he’s still feeling in the elbow area.
