Up until this point, the Atlanta Braves looked to be the most snake-bitten rotation in baseball as they might have to send both Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy under the knife for Tommy John surgery, while Mike Minor will miss at least a turn through the rotation with shoulder issues. But the Oakland A’s are now hot on their heels. A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker are headed for the DL to start the season, both with arm injuries.
The news could be grim for both. Griffin is dealing with flexor tendonitis in his elbow and will be shut down for three weeks. That would put his return date sometime in late-April or early-May. Given that this is an elbow injury, though, fantasy owners cannot be faulted for dropping Griffin to the bottom of their draft boards, if not off them entirely.
Meanwhile, Parker is headed to Dr. James Andrews with forearm problems, which have been an issue since the end of last season. While the A's are reportedly positive, forearm issues are often an ominous sign. Parker should find out his diagnosis, along with Medlen and Beachy, on Monday.
UPDATE: Parker requires Tommy John surgery and is out for the season.
Now Oakland has two open rotation spots, at least temporarily. It would appear the likeliest pitchers to fill those two spots are Tommy Milone, Drew Pomeranz or Jesse Chavez.
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Milone threw 156.1 innings last year for the A’s, making 26 starts. He posted a 4.14 ERA, which is perfectly acceptable from a fifth starter, though not from a mixed-league pitcher. Milone hasn’t been good this spring, allowing six runs in nine innings, but the A’s probably know what they have in him at this point.
Pomeranz, a former top prospect, posted dominant strikeout numbers at Triple-A, whiffing 96 in 85.2 innings. But he was terrible for the Rockies at the major league level, throwing 21.2 innings with a 1-1 K-to-BB ratio and posting a 6.23 ERA. He’s also been lousy this spring, allowing four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings.
Chavez has bounced around the league for years. He was effective for the A’s last season with a 3.92 ERA and 8.6 K/9, but it was in just 57.1 innings, all in relief. He has been quite good so far in spring training, though, not allowing a run in 12.2 innings.
Pomeranz, based on his prior status as a top prospect, would be the most interesting for fantasy owners following his move from Coors Field to O.co Coliseum. But given how poorly he’s performed so far, you couldn’t run him out there at the start of the year, even if he makes the team.
Even in the Coliseum, the 30-year-old Chavez isn't mixed-league worthy, but seeing as the pickings in AL-only leagues are slim, Chavez would at least be worth trying for his home starts. Milone would be in the same boat unless he makes a breakthrough with his strikeout rate. Given his average fastball velocity (87.0 mph), that seems unlikely.