루커는 6월 초부터 그를 괴롭혀 온 왼쪽 무릎 골타박상 회복이 더뎌 화요일 재검진을 받았다. 검사 결과 만 31세인 그의 무릎에서 연골 파열이 확인돼, 그는 수술로 문제를 해결하게 되면서 2026시즌을 조기에 마감한다. 루커가 IL에 오른 동안 조나 하임이 지명타자로 꾸준히 선발 출전해 왔으며, 이제 남은 시즌 동안 그 역할을 이어갈 가능성이 크다.

Clarke hasn't played since April 20 due to a bone bruise in his foot before suffering a hamstring strain during a rehab game in late May. While he still needs to increase the intensity of his running progression, the hope is Clarke is playing in rehab games in the next 7-10 days. He's expected to need 30-45 plate appearances in the minors before returning to the Athletics' lineup. Henry Bolte has been manning center field during Clarke's absence.

크리스크는 오른쪽 어깨 충돌 증후군으로 5월 13일 부상자 명단에 올랐고 앞서 투구가 중단됐던 상태다. 던지기 프로그램을 시작한 것은 올바른 방향으로의 한 걸음이지만, 이 우완이 완전한 건강을 되찾기까지 거쳐야 할 여러 단계 중 첫 단계일 뿐이다. 6월 2일 60일 부상자 명단으로 이관된 크리스크는 올스타 브레이크 이후에야 활성화 자격을 얻는다.

Severino has yet to start a throwing program after he was lifted from his May 29 start with a right shoulder strain. "The hope is that the start of the throwing progression goes well and we can continue that, and hopefully build him up before it's too late to have a season for him," Kotsay said Saturday. The Athletics have, by far, the worst team ERA in the majors (6.85) since Severino went down with his injury. Once he's cleared to throw, he's expected to require several rehab starts before rejoining the rotation.

Gelof landed on the IL right before the All-Star break due to a right knee laceration. He'll resume baseball activities after his stitches are removed, and it's possible that Gelof may not need to embark on a rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day IL. He is slashing .273/.327/.476 with eight steals, 11 home runs and 29 RBI across 247 plate appearances this season.

Kurtz was placed on the injured list just before the All-Star break due to a right thumb capsule sprain. The Athletics should have a better sense of when Kurtz would return from the IL once he is cleared to participate in baseball activities. In the meantime, Tommy White and Jonah Heim will continue to see more work at first base while Kurtz is sidelined.

Scott Barlow pitched two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's series opener against the Cubs, so the A's turned to Justin Sterner for the save in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday. This was Sterner's first save of the season, and he needed just 14 pitches (10 strikes) to get the job done. The 29-year-old has been on a roll of late and hasn't allowed a run in each of his last five outings (5.1 innings).