The Oakland A's today reinstated right-handed pitcher Ryan Dull from the 10-day disabled list, selected catcher Ryan Lavarnway from Triple-A Nashville, placed catcher Josh Phegley on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left oblique (retroactive to July 25), and designated right-handed pitcher John Axford for assignment.
Dull was on the A's Opening Day roster and was 2-2 with a 6.32 ERA in 18 relief appearances when he was placed on the 10-day DL May 20 with a strained right knee. He has a .233 opponents batting average but has issued nine walks in 15.2 innings while striking out 18. The 27-year-old right-hander began a rehab assignment with the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League on July 19 and was transferred to Triple-A Nashville July 21. He made three relief appearances overall and did not allow a run in 3.2 innings.
Lavarnway has appeared in one game with Oakland this year, going 0-for-2 on July 7 while Phegley was away from the team on paternity leave. He was originally selected on July 5 and designated for assignment on July 8 before being outrighted to Nashville on July 14. He is hitting .262 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 67 games with the Sounds.
Axford was on the A's Opening Day roster but did not appear in a game before he was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to April 2 with a strained right shoulder. He was reinstated May 20 and went 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA and .310 opponents batting average in 22 relief appearances. Axford walked 17 batters in 21.0 innings while striking out 21. He is 34-33 with 144 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 493 career appearances in nine seasons with Milwaukee (2009-13), St. Louis (2013), Cleveland (2014), Pittsburgh (2014), Colorado (2015) and Oakland (2016-17).
Phegley has appeared in 47 games with the A's this year, including 37 starts at catcher. He is hitting just .169 over his last 28 games after batting .250 over his first 19 contests.