BOSTON -- Ravaged by a sudden onset of injuries, the A's were forced to make a series of roster moves on Tuesday, placing infielder/outfielder Mark Canha and reliever Liam Hendriks on the disabled list and enlisting three players from Triple-A Nashville.
Right-hander J.B. Wendelken was also optioned to Nashville in the flurry of transactions, with the A's seeking reinforcements for a rundown bullpen in right-hander Andrew Triggs and left-hander Daniel Coulombe. Utility player Tyler Ladendorf was also added to the active roster.
"With the bullpen here recently, it's been more about how we get through a game without using a position player than it is about strategy at times," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "There are certain times during the season you go through that. This has been one for us. Now we feel like we have some guys to mix and match more than we have the last few days."
The return of Ladendorf, back for his second stint of the season, became necessary not only because of Canha's status; infielders Jed Lowrie (right foot) and Danny Valencia (left hamstring) were also out of Tuesday's lineup and even questionable as bench options.
Canha will return to the Bay Area on Wednesday to undergo an MRI on both his left hip and back. He believes the former to be the root of his sporadic back issues that first surfaced in Spring Training and said the pain has progressively worsened, noting hitting "is kind of excruciating."
"It's frustrating, because we spent all the time doing treatment during spring," Canha said. "The MRI will tell us a lot more. You don't want to hope for something bad like a labrum tear to come up, but at the same time, I want an answer of what's wrong. Hopefully the MRI tells us it's something not too serious."
Hendriks, sidelined by a right triceps strain, will also seek an MRI upon returning home Wednesday. The right-hander believes the issue to be minor, saying it's mostly affected him in between outings rather than during them. Hendriks had bone chips removed from his elbow several years ago, and he's since experienced occasional discomfort, "but nothing to the point where it's stopped me from performing," he said.
"Just can't quite get fully extended out there," said Hendriks, who played catch on Tuesday. "This will give me the chance to actually make sure I'm ready instead of pushing forward, especially since we're down a couple guys. I think it's in the best interest of the team and me trying to get back healthy."
Coulombe had excellent numbers with Nashville, posting a 0.64 ERA across 14 innings in 11 relief outings, striking out 14 and walking just two with the use of an effective pair of breaking balls, including an especially devastating curveball that he's reintroduced to his repertoire.
The A's transferred right-hander Chris Bassitt (Tommy John surgery) to the 60-day DL to add Coulombe to the 40-man roster.
"I just feel like I've been consistently good every time I'm going out there," said Coulombe. "Both my breaking balls have been pretty good. I've been pitching off those, then using fastballs to finish guys. It's been good. I've just been throwing the ball with conviction and with confidence."