Surgery possible for A’s Mark Canha; Phegley out with sore knee

Surgery possible for A’s Mark Canha; Phegley out with sore knee

Outfielder Mark Canha is potentially looking at season-ending surgery to repair a hip impingement, and catcher Josh Phegley is likely to miss the series against the Rays after getting a cortisone shot for right knee inflammation.

Canha had an MRI exam Thursday that showed a lower back strain.

While he doesn’t have a labrum tear in his left hip, as Canha had feared, he does show signs of a possible impingement and he is seeking a second opinion from hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon.

The most likely course of action will be to try a cortisone injection first, but if that doesn’t work, surgery to remove bone spurs is usually the next option.

An MRI exam showed no structural damage, but cortisone injections typically require several days of inactivity.

Paparesta said second baseman Jed Lowrie (shin contusion) is off crutches and out of a walking boot, and reliever R.J. Alvarez (elbow) is throwing at a distance of 105 feet and might throw off a mound soon.

Infielder Eric Sogard, on the 60-day disabled list after knee surgery, is still on crutches, Paparesta said, and an MRI exam confirmed a right elbow strain for reliever Liam Hendriks, who has no structural damage.

Manager Bob Melvin said that Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw 90 pitches Sunday and remains on track to join the rotation after that if all goes well.

Pitcher Zach Neal was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville to make room for McBride.

Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.

Billy Burns hit his first career homer at Tampa Bay last year and wound up with a surprising five for the season.