Edward Mujica Injury: Updates on Athletics Pitcher's Thumb and Return

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Edward Mujica broke his thumb Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Continue for updates.

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Mujica Suffers Broken Thumb

Thursday, May 21

Mujica was hit by a comebacker in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday and left the game in the immediate aftermath. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle noted the thumb was broken, and the right-hander must head to the disabled list. Slusser did pass along some good news, though:

Oakland traded cash considerations to the Boston Red Sox for Mujica earlier in the season, and he was yet to allow an earned run this year in an Athletics uniform (although he let an inherited runner score). He boasted a 3.32 ERA entering play Thursday and was one of the only reliable pieces in Oakland’s bullpen in the season's first two months.

It appeared as if he was tapping into the ability that helped him tally a 2.78 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2013 campaign before the setback.

Slusser praised Mujica’s toughness after the game:

This is a significant blow for the last-place Athletics because their bullpen ranks 29th in the league in ERA, as Slusser noted:

It is difficult to envision any type of miraculous charge toward the postseason, even though there is plenty of time remaining in the season. Oakland sits more than 13 games out of first place in the American League West, and the bullpen continues to struggle.

Mujica was one of the few bright spots and will now miss time with this latest setback. It has been a season to forget for the Athletics thus far, and Thursday's result did nothing to change that.