​With Zack Gelof landing on the injured list, the Athletics opted to call up Joey Meneses, an intriguing move given Meneses’ defensive struggles in left field this season. When the lineup was released—with Meneses stationed at first base—manager Mark Kotsay suggested first baseman Nick Kurtz could be headed for the IL. “I wish it was the stomach bug,” Kotsay said. “We had Kurtz evaluated. He’s been dealing with a right thumb issue. He’s played through it for more than a few days. He has a right-thumb capsule sprain.” Kotsay indicated the expectation is that Kurtz will go on the IL, a development that would affect his availability for next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Kurtz had been slated to be the American League’s starting first baseman.
Kurtz is currently mired in an 0-for-20 skid at the plate dating back to the sixth inning of Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins. In that game, he started hot with a single, a home run, and a walk in his first three plate appearances. In addition to Meneses at first, the A’s are expected to give Jonah Heim some time at the position to keep his bat in the lineup while also freeing up the designated hitter spot. Kotsay emphasized that he does not want to move Tyler Soderstrom from left field to first base.
Gelof’s MRI on Friday showed no tendon damage, but the laceration’s location—just below the kneecap—means he must keep his knee from bending. He’s in a brace to immobilize any bending for the next five to seven days. “From one aspect, we escaped something that could have been really bad,” Kotsay said. “Yet it’s still going to take time for this knee, for him to get back.” Gelof suffered a right-hand contusion on June 23 when Giants third baseman Matt Chapman stepped on his hand, an injury that had sent him to the IL. He had just returned on July 4, appeared in four games, and then suffered the new injury in the fifth.
The A’s have been hammered by injuries, repeatedly over the past few weeks. Gelof has already endured an injury, then returned, only to land back on the IL, while shortstop Jacob Wilson and Soderstrom have also spent time on the injured list and subsequently returned. With Kurtz arguably the A’s most potent bat at times, the offense is set to look different. “I talked to the team today about adversity,” Kotsay said Friday. “I told them not to feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got to come together. It’s a next-man-up mentality to help us win games. We’re still in a division race that’s up for grabs. I know we haven’t played well lately, but there’s still that opportunity to get back in this thing. Every game matters.”
Kotsay also noted the team’s recent intensity—Thursday’s effort was a positive sign that the season could turn around. In a lighter moment amid the seriousness, he mentioned visiting the mural of Pope Leo (a noted White Sox fan) in Section 141 B for better SEO.