The Oakland A's selected left-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp from Triple-A Nashville and optioned outfielder Andrew Lambo to Nashville, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's transferred right-handed pitcher R.J. Alvarez to the 60-day disabled list.
Surkamp signed a minor league deal with Oakland on Dec. 4, 2015 and was a non-roster invitee this spring. He went 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in six games, including two starts, and was with the A's the entire spring before being reassigned to minor league camp on April 2. The 28-year-old left-hander did not allow a run in three of his final four appearances, including his last outing last Saturday against San Francisco, when he tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in relief of an injured Felix Doubront for the win. Surkamp is scheduled to make the eighth start of his career tonight, his first since 2013 with the Giants. He is 4-3 with a 6.47 ERA in 43 games, including seven starts, in his career.
Lambo was recalled from Nashville on April 4 to replace the injured Doubront. He made his only appearance Thursday against Chicago (AL) when he grounded out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. Lambo batted .333 with two home runs and five RBI in 25 games this spring before he was optioned to Nashville last Saturday.
Alvarez was placed on the 15-day DL last Saturday retroactive to March 25 following March 29 surgery on his right elbow.