HOUSTON _ The A's pitching staff continues to take a beating as the final month of the playoff push nears.
Brett Anderson is the latest member of the rotation to go down, placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left forearm strain a day after one of his worst starts of the year in Monday's loss to the AL West-leading Houston Astros. The left-hander's injury comes two days after No. 1 starter Sean Manaea was placed on the DL because of a left shoulder impingement.
Anderson had been one of the A's hottest starters entering Monday's start with outings of seven-plus shutout innings in three of his previous four starts. But it ran into a buzzsaw in the Astros' offense, which roughed him up for a five-run third inning that he was unable to finish as A's manager Bob Melvin pulled him with two outs.
This will be Anderson's second stint on the disabled list this year. He is 3-4 with his 4.02 ERA in 13 starts.
Ryan Dull was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take Anderson's spot on the roster, but the A's are left with only four starting pitchers on the active roster. That includes Daniel Mengden, who was used in Monday's loss with four innings of long relief.
Mengden is likely to take Anderson's spot in the rotation, which would come Saturday at the Coliseum against the Seattle Mariners.
Frankie Montas is a likely call up. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 5.96 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Nashville this month after the A's demoted him near the end of July.
Chris Bassitt, who started Sunday's game in Minnesota before being sent to the minors, is another option to return to the majors. With Anderson injured, the A's would not have to wait the usual 10 days to bring him back up.
Pitchers such as Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Cashner figure to be available up to the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline, but there has been no indication that the A's are interested in either.
