The Athletics received an unfortunate update on outfielder Seth Brown on Tuesday.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay revealed Brown is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Brown suffered the injury during an at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
The A's placed Brown on the 10-day injured list Monday and recalled infielder Kevin Smith from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators to take his spot on the roster.
Brown, in his fifth season with the A's, has started eight of 10 games this season -- seven in left field and one at designated hitter. He’s registered a .200/.250/.367 slash line with two doubles, one homer and two RBI.
The 30-year-old is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he logged career highs in games played (150), doubles (26), homers (25) and RBI (73).
Smith made his season debut Monday in the A's 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and went 0 for 4. The 26-year-old tore the cover off the ball in spring training -- batting .395/.469/.605 in 21 games -- but failed to make the Opening Day roster. He mashed five homers and stole four bases in seven games with the Aviators this month.
In 47 games with Oakland last season, Smith logged a .180/.216/.302 slash line with nine doubles, one triple and two homers. He'll start at shortstop and bat sixth once again Tuesday in the second game of the four-game set at Camden Yards
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The first pitch is scheduled for Tuesday at 3:35 p.m. PT.