Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – The Oakland Athletics recalled left-hander Josh
Outman from Triple-A Sacramento to make the start against the Angels on
Monday.

The 26-year-old returns to the big leagues after nearly a two-year hiatus. He
had Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow on June 30, 2009 after leaving a
game at San Diego 11 days earlier.

Outman began this season with Sacramento and went 4-1 with a 4.78 earned run
average in eight starts.

For his career, he is 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 20 games — 16 starts.

To open a roster spot, the A’s designated lefty Jerry Blevins for assignment.
He was pitching to a 4.40 ERA in 15 relief appearances this year.

The Sports Network

The Oakland Athletics have an intriguing pair of pitchers on their 25-man roster as they head down to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels of said Anaheim. Josh Outman was recalled from Sacramento after Sunday’s loss to the Giants and will start in place of Brandon McCarthy Monday night against the Angels. Over the weekend, relief pitcher Joey Devine made back-to-back appearances against the Giants and gave up one hit in two innings of work.

Normally that wouldn’t make the news, but for Outman and Devine, it’s a huge story. Both pitchers lost much of the last two years to elbow ligament replacement surgery, better known as Tommy John surgery. Devine had his surgery in late 2008, while Outman had his surgery in mid-2009.

Both pitchers began this season at AAA Sacramento and now find themselves filling in for other injured pitchers at the big league level. Devine was dealing with the Rivercats, giving up no runs in 12 1/3 innings pitched. He had not pitched in back-to-back games all season but was given that opportunity over the weekend in San Francisco. Outman has struggled with wildness at Sacramento, walking 27 in 37 2/3 innings, but the A’s feel comfortable bringing him up to make at least one start.

It remains to be seen how well these two will rebound from their respective Tommy John surgeries. However, just making it back to the big leagues is a huge step for them. The A’s have had solid starting pitching this season, but injuries have opened the door for Outman. The A’s bullpen was supposed to be a strength but it has struggled to gain some level of consistency in 2011. This opened the door for Joey Devine. It will be interesting to see how they perform the rest of the season.

Read More: Joey Devine (P – OAK), Fautino De Los Santos (P – OAK), Jerry Blevins (P – OAK), Tyson Ross (P – OAK), Brandon McCarthy (P – OAK), Dallas Braden (P – OAK), San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox

Until recently the Oakland Athletics had done a good job keeping their players healthy. However, starting with the shoulder injury to Dallas Braden, the injury concerns have quickly reverted back to the norm of the past few seasons. Earlier today the A’s placed starting pitchers Tyson Ross and Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list. Ross injured his left oblique on Thursday, while McCarthy has had a stress reaction in his right shoulder. The A’s also demoted relief pitcher Trystan Magnuson to AAA after he gave up six runs in two innings against the Twins on Thursday.

To replace those three pitchers, the A’s recalled Jerry Blevins, Joey Devine and Fautino De Los Santos from AAA-Sacramento. Blevins had spent the early part of the season in Oakland but was demoted after struggling with control issues. He has struggled a bit at Sacramento, but the A’s need arms after running through much of their bullpen on Thursday.

Devine has pitched quite well in Sacramento this year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but has yet to pitch on back-to-back days. The A’s have a solid bullpen so they won’t necessarily need back-to-back performances from him for now. In 2011 he’s made 11 appearances for Sacramento, throwing 12 1/3 innings and giving up no runs in that time. Throw in a 17 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio and he will be an intriguing presence in the A’s bullpen.

However, the most interesting addition was the promotion of Fautino De Los Santos who the A’s acquired from the White Sox in the 2008 Nick Swisher trade. De Los Santos was originally brought over as a starter but was moved to the bullpen at the beginning of 2010. In 13 appearances this year between Midland and Sacramento, De Los Santos has an ERA of 1.76 in 15 1/3 innings with a K/BB ratio of 21/8.

This infusion of arms gives the A’s bullpen a bit of a respite. Blevins last pitched on Tuesday, while Devine and De Los Santos last pitched on Monday. However, with Trevor Cahill starting Friday night against the Giants, the A’s are hoping for a limited bullpen need.

Read More: Joey Devine (P – OAK), Fautino De Los Santos (P – OAK), Jerry Blevins (P – OAK), Tyson Ross (P – OAK), Brandon McCarthy (P – OAK), Dallas Braden (P – OAK), San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox

Until recently the Oakland Athletics had done a good job keeping their players healthy. However, starting with the shoulder injury to Dallas Braden, the injury concerns have quickly reverted back to the norm of the past few seasons. Earlier today the A’s placed starting pitchers Tyson Ross and Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list. Ross injured his left oblique on Thursday, while McCarthy has had a stress reaction in his right shoulder. The A’s also demoted relief pitcher Trystan Magnuson to AAA after he gave up six runs in two innings against the Twins on Thursday.

To replace those three pitchers, the A’s recalled Jerry Blevins, Joey Devine and Fautino De Los Santos from AAA-Sacramento. Blevins had spent the early part of the season in Oakland but was demoted after struggling with control issues. He has struggled a bit at Sacramento, but the A’s need arms after running through much of their bullpen on Thursday.

Devine has pitched quite well in Sacramento this year while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but has yet to pitch on back-to-back days. The A’s have a solid bullpen so they won’t necessarily need back-to-back performances from him for now. In 2011 he’s made 11 appearances for Sacramento, throwing 12 1/3 innings and giving up no runs in that time. Throw in a 17 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio and he will be an intriguing presence in the A’s bullpen.

However, the most interesting addition was the promotion of Fautino De Los Santos who the A’s acquired from the White Sox in the 2008 Nick Swisher trade. De Los Santos was originally brought over as a starter but was moved to the bullpen at the beginning of 2010. In 13 appearances this year between Midland and Sacramento, De Los Santos has an ERA of 1.76 in 15 1/3 innings with a K/BB ratio of 21/8.

This infusion of arms gives the A’s bullpen a bit of a respite. Blevins last pitched on Tuesday, while Devine and De Los Santos last pitched on Monday. However, with Trevor Cahill starting Friday night against the Giants, the A’s are hoping for a limited bullpen need.