Without appearing in a game this season, A’s reliever John Axford was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained shoulder.
Axford, 34, felt tightness when tossing a curve in the bullpen during Tuesday night’s game. He went for an MRI Wednesday, and the A’s were waiting for the results.
“It was a complete surprise,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Not only to us, but to him.”
Because the A’s can backtrack Axford’s time on the DL three days, they’re hoping he could miss only a week. The 10-day DL replaced the old 15-day DL, which made it an easier decision to shut down Axford right away.