Kyle

Muller

After clearing waivers and reporting to Triple-A last month, Muller made four starts for Vegas and posted a 4.43 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. He figures to go back to pitching in relief in the majors, unless something has come up with one of their current starters that the A’s have yet to reveal.

Muller will have to accept the assignment. He went unclaimed on waivers in spite of an acceptable 4.22 ERA in 42 2/3 innings out of the A’s pen. That he’s throwing softer as a reliever than he did as a starter last year was certainly a factor there.

Muller is booted from the 40-man roster and the active one to make room for Joe Boyle. The left-hander could see some interest on the waiver wire, but if not will likely report to Triple-A Las Vegas if he goes unclaimed

Muller is back after missing over a month with his shoulder tendinitis. The southpaw will be a multi-inning option for Oakland, and could very well make starts for the Athletics in the coming weeks, if not sooner.

Muller has missed a month with left shoulder tendinitis. We’ve yet to hear whether the A’s intend to stretch him out before bringing him back to the majors. He was used exclusively as a reliever before getting hurt, but he topped out at 5 1/3 innings and threw four (on one day of rest!) in his last outing before going on the IL.

Muller has been solid in his first season as a reliever, pitching to a 3.48 ERA and 1.19 WHIP but also does have just 24 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings. There’s no indication yet of how long Muller will be out. The team recalled LHP Hogan Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move.

Muller topped out at three innings this spring and threw just one inning in his final two appearances after he was eliminated from the rotation competition in Oakland, but the A’s let him throw 73 pitches tonight on three days’ rest after he pitched 2 2/3 innings on Opening Day. It makes him the obvious choice to step into the rotation if the A’s need another starter right away. Still, they’ll probably keep him in middle relief unless something happens.

On the plus side, Muller did manage to record four strikeouts on the afternoon while allowing only one free pass. The Rockies jumped on him for three runs in the opening inning — including a two-run blast off the bat of Kris Bryant. They tacked on another in the second on an RBI double by Nolan Jones, then added two more in the third inning. Muller had pitched very well in each of his previous two starts prior to this disaster. He now sports an uninspiring 4.91 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and a 15/4 K/BB ratio over 11 innings on the spring.

Muller piled up four strikeouts on the afternoon while issuing a pair of walks. Both of the hits that he allowed in the contest were singles — to Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrada. His four strikeouts came courtesy of Austin Slater (twice), Tom Murphy and Jorge Soler. While he was initially tagged for a spot in the A’s bullpen to begin the season, Muller isn’t going down without a fight for his rotation spot — posting a 1.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and an 11/3 K/BB ratio across eight innings through his first three spring outings.

Muller worked around a walk and a base hit in a scoreless first inning. James Outman would take him deep for a solo shot in the second to put the Dodgers on the board. Muller’s day would be done after two frames. The 26-year-old left-hander figures to start the season in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. He struggles mightily last season, posting a 7.60 ERA across 77 innings with the A’s. His minor league numbers offer little hope after he posted a 7.26 ERA across 62 Triple-A innings.