Oakland A’s starter Brett Anderson left his start against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning with a strained right oblique. Oakland lost the game 6-2 to Detroit as Miguel Cabrera hit his 41st home run of the season to back up the strong pitching of Justin Verlander.
A’s manager Bob Melvin was more concerned about the loss of Anderson. “He’s getting an MRI right now,So, we won’t know anything until he gets back.” Melvin plans to pitch Dan Straily in Anderson’s spot in the rotation if he can’t make his next start.
Typically oblique strains take more than two weeks of recovery and often linger for longer periods of time. It is likely that Anderson won’t pitch again in the 2012 regular-season, but could return if the Athletics advance to the American League Division Series. The A’s have just 14 games left in the regular season.
Anderson returned from Tommy John reconstructive surgery in August and is pitching to a 2.57 ERA in six starts. Anderson has struck out 25 batters and walked seven in 35 innings of work. Oakland has now lost three straight games, and is tied with the Baltimore Orioles for a wild-card spot in the playoffs.
