Oakland Athletics reliever Lucas Erceg (forearm) is going to be placed on the injured list with forearm tightness, according to manager Mark Kotsay. The official transaction has not occurred yet but Erceg was already sent back to Oakland for additional testing. The exact severity of the injury should be known in a couple days. It is a tough blow for the Athletics bullpen as Erceg has pitched great as a setup man in 2024. The 29-year-old posted a 2.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, two saves, eight holds and 27:8 K:BB across his first 22 innings this season. Austin Adams is the likely candidate to take over Erceg's duties in front of Mason Miller.
Oakland Athletics rookie right-hander Lucas Erceg picked up his first victory of the year on Monday in the 7-2 win over the visiting Atlanta Braves by tossing three shutout innings. Erceg didn't allow a hit or a walk while striking out four in the impressive outing. The 28-year-old reliever hasn't allowed a run in his last four relief appearances and now holds a shiny 1.29 ERA (2.14 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, four walks and 10 strikeouts in seven innings over the first five relief outings of his major-league career. If Erceg continues to be this dominant, manager Mark Kotsay may have no choice but to use him in more high-leverage situations near the back of the bullpen.
The Milwaukee Brewers re-signed right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg to a minor league contract on Tuesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training next year. The 27-year-old former infielder is coming off his first full season as a pitcher. In two stops with Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville, Erceg had a 4.55 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 69 strikeouts and 37 walks in 61 1/3 innings pitched over 49 outings (four starts) in the minors. It's still young in Erceg's pitching career, but he'll have a shot to open the 2023 regular season in Milwaukee's bullpen if he impresses in spring training. He had a 3.43 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 42 K's in 39 1/3 frames at Nashville.
