Rooker went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and two runs scored in Sunday's loss to Kansas City.
Rooker belted a three-run shot in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough for the Athletics to mount a late comeback. It was his first homer since May 12, though six of his 11 long balls this year have come in May. Rooker is following up his 30-homer breakout season nicely, posting a .281/.358/.578 slash line with 18 extra-base hits and 32 RBI through 151 plate appearances.
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Athletics' JP Sears: Tagged with four runs
Rotowire
Sears (3-3) yielded four runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Royals.
Sears stumbled out of the gate by allowing two runs in the first inning but kept the Royals quiet until coughing up two more runs in the fifth. He's failed to complete at least six innings in three straight outings, posting a 5.40 ERA during that span. His ERA has climbed back up to 4.31 with a 39:16 K:BB through 54.1 innings. Sears has allowed at least four runs in five of his 10 starts this year but given up just two total runs in his other five appearances. His next outing is expected to be at home against the Astros next weekend.
Harris is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Kansas City.
Harris will sit for the fourth time in Oakland's past six contests after he started the previous 11 games. Abraham Toro will take over at the hot corner and bat leadoff.
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Athletics' Kyle McCann: Delivers as pinch hitter Saturday
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McCann entered Saturday's loss to the Royals as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and singled in his only plate appearance.
McCann continues to see occasional starts behind the dish, but he'd gone a combined 1-for-10 with six strikeouts in the most recent three prior to Saturday's pinch-hit appearance. The rookie will continue to spell Shea Langeliers on occasion, and despite the recent skid, he still carries a .333 average and .975 OPS over 47 plate appearances.
Athletics' Miguel Andujar: Evaluation coming Monday
Rotowire
Andujar (knee) will be evaluated by the Athletics on Monday after playing for a second consecutive day for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Andujar made his rehab debut for the Aviators on Thursday and returned to the field Saturday, going 0-for-3 while playing a full game in left field during the loss to El Paso. If Andujar feels good after playing back-to-back rehab games over the weekend, he may be deemed ready for activation early in the week.
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Athletics' Seth Brown: Hits two-run homer
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Brown went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Royals.
Brown tied the game at 2-2 with his second-inning blast off Seth Lugo. The homer was Brown's fourth hit over 13 games in May -- he's batting just .138 for the month and .179 for the year. The outfielder has added a .546 OPS, four homers, 11 RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases and three doubles through 120 plate appearances. Brown's poor hitting has cost him playing time recently, with Brent Rooker picking up playing time in left field at Brown's expense. Brown can also play right field, where he's competing with Tyler Nevin for at-bats.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Boyle (back) is slated to throw a "two-up" bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will take an important step in his recovery with Sunday's activity, which will see Boyle participate in separate throwing sessions with rest periods in between. If Boyle proves capable of tolerating the activity well, he could potentially be activated when first eligible Tuesday.
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Athletics' Ross Stripling: Takes third straight loss
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Stripling (1-8) allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out two without walking a batter over five-plus innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Royals.
Stripling has lost three straight starts, though he kept the ball in the yard and didn't walk a batter for the first time in that span. The veteran right-hander gave up two runs in the first inning and then ran into trouble again in the fifth and sixth. Stripling has a 5.19 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB over 52 innings across 10 starts this season. The Athletics' rotation has been hammered with injuries, so he's at little risk of slipping out of a starting role any time soon. Stripling is projected to make his next start at home versus the Astros.
Nevin will take a seat after going 0-for-2 with a walk in the team's 6-2 loss in the series opener Friday. Seth Brown will draw the start in right field and bat seventh against the Royals.
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Athletics' Brett Harris: Breather Saturday
Rotowire
Harris is not in the starting lineup Saturday versus the Royals.
Harris will take a seat after he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Friday's series opener. The 25-year-old is in the midst of an 0-for-10 stretch at the plate. Abraham Toro will draw the start at third base and bat leadoff against Kansas City.
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Belts 10th homer Friday
Rotowire
Langeliers went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks in a loss to the Royals on Friday.
It was such a miserable offensive night for the Athletics that Langeliers' 421-foot blast came with Oakland just one out away from being shut out. The backstop is hitting a stellar .368 (14-for-38) with four home runs and 13 RBI across his last 11 contests.
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Athletics' Mitch Spence: Yields one run in no-decision
Rotowire
Spence did not factor into the decision Friday against Kansas City, allowing one run on four hits and no walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Spence fared well in his first major-league start after tossing his first 25.1 MLB innings out of the bullpen. The rookie right-hander generated nine whiffs over 77 pitches, the second time in four May appearances he's worked more than 70 pitches. Should Spence draw another turn in the Oakland rotation, he would be slated to face the Rockies at home.
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Out of starting lineup versus lefty
Rotowire
Soderstrom is not in the starting lineup for Friday's matchup against the Royals.
The lefty-hitting Soderstrom will start from the bench as the Athletics take on lefty Cole Ragans. The 22-year-old has started in six of Oakland's last eight games, though J.D. Davis will take the field at first base Friday.
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Athletics' Hogan Harris: Sent back down
Rotowire
Harris was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Harris was called up Wednesday and fired off 3.1 scoreless frames Thursday against the Astros. However, he'll go right back to Triple-A on Friday to make room for Brandon Bielak, who was acquired via trade Thursday. In 25 innings at Las Vegas, Harris owns a 7.56 ERA with 23 walks allowed.
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Athletics' Kyle Muller: Long relief candidate Friday
Rotowire
Muller could follow starter Mitch Spence as a long reliever during Friday's game against the Royals, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
With the A's rotation plagued by injuries, Muller was initially an option to start Friday's series opener. However, Oakland will hand the ball to Mitch Spence -- who's gone three or more innings six times this season -- to start the contest. Still, Muller could follow Spence and see multiple innings of work if needed.
