OAKLAND — When A's LHP Sean Manaea was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis in his left shoulder, it was unclear whether he would be able to return this season. As of Thursday afternoon, A's manager Bob Melvin didn't sound optimistic.
“The longer this goes on and the more we hear about what's going on with him and how he feels, I think it's going be tough for him to make it,” Melvin said. “I'm not going to say 100 percent sure that he won't be able to, but at this point it's probably less than 50-50.”
Manaea went on the 10-day DL Sunday after feeling discomfort in his shoulder while playing catch. For now, all he can do is take it day by day and hope his shoulder responds to anti-inflammatory medication.
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“It's super frustrating,” Manaea said. “I feel like I'm letting everyone down. It really sucks that it has to happen right now. But there's nothing I can do about it except try to get healthy and hopefully help this team at the end of the season.”
Manaea, 26, is 12-9 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 27 starts this season. He had been the last remaining pitcher from Oakland's Opening Day starting rotation to avoid the disabled list.
“With a guy who's been basically our ace the entire season, it stings a little more,” Melvin acknowledged. “But if you sit around and feel sorry for yourself and think you're snakebit, that's a distraction you don't need. We do have some guys who have been productive for us this year in [Frankie] Montas and [Daniel] Mengden, and it's their time to step up.”
Montas will start Thursday's series opener against the Mariners. Mengden is slated to start Saturday.