With Blackburn ailing, A's short on starting pitchers

The Oakland Athletics are thin on starting pitching following news Thursday that right-hander Paul Blackburn is experiencing forearm tightness.

Blackburn was shelled for seven runs in an appearance Tuesday.

Manager Bob Melvin told reporters that the development will keep Blackburn out of the rotation when the MLB season starts next week.

The 24-year-old was scheduled to be examined by a doctor later Thursday.

Blackburn was 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 games as a rookie in 2017.

With Jharel Cotton already out for the season after Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and A.J. Puk shut down this week due to biceps soreness according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A's are down to five healthy candidates to start from the group that arrived at spring training.

The A's signed Trevor Cahill on Monday, but Melvin said he is not ready to handle starters' innings yet.

That leaves Daniel Gossett, Kendall Graveman, Sean Manaea, Daniel Mengden, Andrew Triggs as the rotation.

-- Field Level Media