Oakland Athletics right-handed reliever Zach Jackson (elbow), who was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 21 with a right flexor-tendon strain, felt good after throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. The next step will be for Jackson to throw to live hitters. The 28-year-old has been on the shelf since May 16, so he still has a ways to go and could need a rather lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before the A's feel comfortable activating him. Before his injury, Jackson had looked very good in 19 appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 2.50 ERA (3.12 FIP), 1.56 WHIP, one save, 10 walks and 23 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched.
Oakland Athletics right-hander Zach Jackson (elbow) could begin a throwing program next week. The A's put Jackson on the 15-day injured list on May 19 with a right flexor tendon strain, but he's about to start ramping things back up. Like most relievers, the 28-year-old shouldn't need much time before he's able to rejoin Oakland's bullpen. It remains to be seen if he'll need a short minor-league rehab assignment before the team feels he's ready to return to the big leagues. Before his injury, Jackson had allowed only seven runs (five earned) on 18 hits (one homer) while walking 10 and striking out 23 in 18 relief innings. He also picked up his fourth career save on May 6 against the Kansas City Royals.
Zach Jackson Tasked With The Ninth Inning On Friday
Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay went with right-hander Zach Jackson in the ninth inning on Friday to complete the 12-8 win over the Kansas City Royals. He gave up one hit, kept the Royals scoreless, and struck out one batter. Although it wasn't a save situation, it's a sign that Jackson is the closer right now after the club designated Jeurys Familia for assignment. The 28-year-old has posted a 2.40 ERA with a 27.7% strikeout rate and 1.47 WHIP. Jackson's arguably the best arm in the team's bullpen and fantasy managers should expect him to grab most of the save opportunities, even though they'll be limited on the lowly A's.
Zach Jackson Tosses Another Scoreless Inning Wednesday
Oakland Athletics rookie relief pitcher Zach Jackson entered the game on Wednesday in a tie ballgame in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels and struck out one in a perfect inning of work to send the game to extra innings. Left-hander A.J. Puk, who had the team's last save last Thursday, pitched a perfect eighth inning. Dany Jimenez allowed an unearned run on a hit while walking two and striking out four in two innings of work. Jackson picked up his third save on Aug. 3 and is sporting a 2.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 60 K's in 43 innings of work in 2022. With Lou Trivino now in New York, the A's appear to be using a closer-by-committee approach consisting of Puk, Jimenez and Jackson. Fantasy managers scrounging for saves can give Jackson a look, but saves have been few and far between for the last-place A's.
