RHP Stripling Placed on 15-Day Injured List; RHP Brandon Bielak Designated for Assignment
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson and selected left-handed pitcher Jack O’Loughlin from Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. The A’s also placed right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow and designated right-handed pitcher Brandon Bielak for assignment.
Ferguson joins the A’s for the second time this year as he was previously with the club from May 7 to 20. He compiled a 5.68 ERA and .190 opponents batting average in six relief appearances in his Major League debut, but walked six batters in 6.1 innings. The 30-year-old right-hander made one appearance with Las Vegas following his May 21 option, allowing a run on one hit while striking out three in 1.0 inning Thursday at Tacoma. Ferguson is 1-1 with four saves and a 2.81 ERA in 15 relief appearances overall with the Aviators.
O’Loughlin was a non-roster invitee with the A’s this spring after signing a minor league contract on Nov. 13, 2023 and will be making his Major League debut. He has spent the entire season with Las Vegas and is 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA and .892 opponents OPS in 10 appearances, including eight starts. The 24-year-old right-hander has struck out 44 batters in 38.2 innings and has allowed a .305 opponents batting average. O’Loughlin is 16-20 with a 3.76 ERA in 98 games, including 66 starts, in six seasons in the minors, the first five of which came in the Tigers farm system. The native of Australia was signed by Detroit at the age of 16 on July 16, 2016 and spent two seasons in the Australian Baseball League before coming to the United States in 2018.
Stripling has spent the entire season in the A’s starting rotation and is 1-9 with a 5.82 ERA and .840 opponents OPS in 11 starts. He lost his first five starts, picked up his first win since 2022 on May 1 and is 0-4 with a 9.98 ERA over his last four starts. Bielak was acquired from Houston for cash considerations on May 16 and had a win and a 3.18 ERA in three relief appearances with the A’s. He walked one batter in 5.2 innings but allowed nine hits.
