Nearly a year after undergoing surgery to repair his left shoulder, A's left-hander Sean Manaea will make his long-awaited return Sunday against the New York Yankees.
Manaea, 27, will come off the 60-day injured list and start in place of right-hander Mike Fiers, who will get an extra two days off before starting Tuesday's series opener against the Angels.
Manaea made five rehab starts in Triple-A Las Vegas, going 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. Most recently, he tossed seven shutout innings last Friday, allowing just two hits and a walk, with 12 strikeouts.
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Manaea is coming off a career-year in which he won 12 games with a 3.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. That included his first career no-hitter last April against the Boston Red Sox.
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A's manager Bob Melvin has said a six-man starting rotation is a possibility in September and it appears that will begin right from the start of the month. Oakland could also still move one of its starters to the bullpen at some point.
The A's will have to make a corresponding move to make room for Manaea on the 40-man roster.