TOKYO — Jesús Luzardo’s chances of making the Opening Day rotation are officially over.
The A’s electric young left-hander has been diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder. Luzardo will be shut down 4-6 weeks and re-evaluated from that point.
Luzardo began to feel soreness Tuesday, one day after throwing a side session down in Arizona, and informed the club of the pain.
Luzardo, 21, was expected to pitch in the A’s upcoming Bay Bridge Series games against the San Francisco Giants with a potential Opening Day rotation spot on the line. The injury now likely puts Aaron Brooks in position as the favorite for the fifth starter job.