Athletics give Matt Chapman the day off as Khris Davis returns
OAKLAND — There was something missing from the Athletics starting lineup Sunday, but it’s no cause for alarm.
Third baseman Matt Chapman, the major league leader in games played with 41, sat down in favor of Chad Pinder.
“He’s played every game this year, at some point in time you need a day off,” manager Bob Melvin said before the Athletics wrapped up a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. “The way he plays, it’s pretty significant, so it’s up to me to get a schedule for him where we can get him some days off. Today is one of those. Then we have tow games, then we have an off-day so he gets a little rejuvenated.”
It’s the third time this year Chapman hasn’t started, with Pinder starting April 4 against the Boston Reds Sox and again on April 11 in Baltimore. In both of those games, Chapman went in late as a defensive replacement.
However, Chapman has gone beginning to end in the last 18 games, and four of those have gone extra innings.
Designated hitter Khris Davis, meanwhile was back in the starting lineup — although he was scratched just before game time under similar circumstances earlier in the homestand. Davis sustained a thigh contusion running into a fence making a catch while making a rare appearance in the outfield in Pittsburgh to close out the preceding road trip. He’s had six days to heal.
“(He’s) still probably going to feel it a little bit,” Melvin said. “See how he feels in the cage today. But today’s that day we kind of had targeted. I talked to him a little bit about it yesterday. We’ll see how it goes, Hopefully it goes well.”
Davis hasn’t homered since April 12 against Texas. He was injured on May 5 in Pittsburgh and started on May 8 against the Reds but was pulled after two at-bats after Melvin determined Davis wasn’t swinging with his usual authority.
The Athletics open a nine-game road trip with a two-game series starting Monday in Seattle, then play four games in Detroit and three in Cleveland before returning home against the Mariners on May 24.
WENDELKEN SENT DOWN: Relief pitcher J.B. Wendelken was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Daniel Mengden, who will start Sunday against Cleveland.
Wendelken last pitched on May 9 on the homestand, throwing a scoreless ninth in a 3-0 loss to Cincinnati. In his two previous appearances, Wendelken gave up seven hits and six earned runs with three walks in 1 2/3 innings against Boston and Pittsburgh.
Earlier in the season, when the Athletics were missing Lou Trivino with a fingernail injury, Wendelken gave did some stout work late in games.
Melvin said he expected Wendelken to return at some point.
“He went through a little bit of a tough stretch, but he’s a guy we weren’t going to be afraid to pitch late in games and that’s going to be the case with him,” Melvin said. “He’s going to be a big-time contributor for us, not only this year, but in the future. Sometimes you’re just trying to get it right at a particular time and unfortunately he’s the guy to go right now, but we’ll see him again.”
Right-hander Aaron Brooks, Melvin said, will move to the bullpen. Brooks started six times before coming on in the second inning Saturday after “opener” Liam Hendriks through a scoreless first inning in a 3-2 win over Cleveland. Brooks through four innings and gave up one earned run.
A move to the bullpen by Brooks may be a sign that Mengden has arrived for more than just a spot start, as well as the potential for using more “openers” down the road.
“Brooksie did an ice job with what he had to deal with yesterday,” Melvin said. “Threw a lot of pitches. Doesn’t mean he won’t start again. It’s always nice to have somebody in the bullpen that can give you three, four, five innings if you need to.”