Oakland A’s outfielder could miss rest of season with knee injury

Oakland A’s outfielder JJ Bleday was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left knee sprain.

JJ Bleday was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a left knee sprain, and Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said the outfielder’s return this season was uncertain.

Bleday was hurt while making a play on a ball hit to left field on Sunday in Washington. He went 1-for-4 with two runs and a walk in that game, which ended in a crushing 8-7 loss after Oakland gave up six runs in the ninth inning.

Bleday, 25, suffered a strain to his anterior cruciate ligament, according to Kotsay, and team doctors advised him to rest for the time being. Although no decision has been made, Kotsay stated that “it will definitely have to be discussed whether JJ can finish the year at any capacity.” It’s a terrible injury.”

After Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the A’s (33-86) have only 42 games remaining in the American League West, trailing the Texas Rangers by 38 games. The A’s had Tony Kemp in left field, Lawrence Butler in center, and Esteury Ruiz in right for the second game of the series at Busch Stadium.

Bleday, who was acquired from the Miami Marlins in February in exchange for reliever AJ Puk, was hitting.203 with 10 home runs and a.687 OPS in 77 games with Oakland this season. He began the season in Triple-A, hitting.316 with seven home runs and a 1.071 OPS in 25 games.

Felipe injured: The A’s have sent right-handed reliever ngel Felipe back to Oakland for further evaluation after he complained of elbow discomfort following his appearance in Monday’s game.

Felipe went to see team trainers Monday night, according to Kotsay, because his elbow “didn’t feel normal.” After an MRI, the decision was made to return Felipe, who had been placed on the IL with a right elbow sprain, to Oakland for further evaluation.

Felipe entered Monday’s game with the A’s leading by two runs in the seventh inning, but he walked three batters before being replaced by Francisco Pérez. Felipe was charged with three earned runs in the A’s 7-5 defeat.

Felipe has a 4.20 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 15.0 innings pitched in 14 games for Oakland. On June 21, he was claimed off waivers from San Diego and recalled from Las Vegas on July 7.

Notable: The A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Tayler Scott from Triple-A Las Vegas and reinstated catcher Carlos Pérez from the 10-day injured list.

Pérez rejoins the team after missing 34 games due to a fractured left thumb. Prior to being placed on the IL on July 2, he was hitting.232 in 47 games for the A’s, with five home runs and 17 RBI. He went 5-for-13 (.385) with a 1.005 OPS and no strikeouts in four rehab games with Las Vegas. Pérez was recently named the A’s Heart & Hustle Award winner.

Scott is back with the A’s for his second stint after being optioned to Las Vegas on August 5. On July 19, he was claimed off waivers from Boston and appeared in six games for Oakland, posting a 5.06 ERA in 5.1 innings. He had a 2.25 ERA in four appearances for the Aviators, allowing just one run in 4.0 innings pitched.