A’s roster moves: Stripling to IL, Muller recalled

The 2023 Opening Day starter rejoins the club

The Athletics announced a couple roster moves this afternoon, placing right-hander Ross Stripling on the IL and recalling left-hander Kyle Muller:

The move to the IL likely ends Stripling’s season with just 17 games left to play, but the fact that he wasn’t moved to the 60-day IL means the club is holding out hope of a return. Still, if this is indeed a wrap on his year he’ll finish with a 6.08 ERA over 21 appearances, 14 of which were starts. It’s a tough end to his year and probably the end of his time with the Green & Gold as he’ll hit the free agent market this off-season. Never say never on a return but the club may turn to their younger arms next season and he’ll try to latch on with a contender as he nears the end of his big league career.

Taking Stripling’s place on the active roster will be lefty Kyle Muller. It’s been a long time since he earned the 2023 Opening Day assignment but he’s back with the Athletics after spending the month of August down in Triple-A. We don’t know if the club will give him another crack at starting but his last three outings were starting assignments for the Aviators, and they were encouraging outings as well. Keep an eye on how they use him over these final few weeks.

The club needed to clear space on the 40-man roster to recall Muller and that casualty was lefty reliever Jack O’Loughlin, who the club designated for assignment. The Australian-born lefty made his big league debut this year back in May but looked uneven, allowing five runs in 9 ²⁄₃ innings with a 6/5 K/BB ratio. He’ll now be available to be claimed by another team but the A’s will hope to sneak him through waivers and stash him back in Triple-A for the time being.