Reinforcements might be coming to the Oakland Athletics' rotation in short order.
On Saturday, Sean Manaea threw a simulated game at the A's minor-league facility, and he may only need one more before his rehab assignment, according to Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle.
The left-hander managed to throw 45 pitches over three innings, allowing one single while walking no one. The team's plan is to have Manaea throw a 60-pitch sim game next.
"If things keep going well, I'm getting close," Manaea said. "Threw everything for strikes, felt great. I was really happy with how everything turned out. There were people in the stands, I did my normal warmup, it was great. I think I got into a three-ball count once."
Manaea, 27, has been sidelined since Aug. 24 after requiring shoulder surgery late last season. The left-hander was in the midst of a breakout 2018 campaign, posting a 3.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over 160 2/3 innings. He also threw a no-hitter against the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
"It's gone according to plan," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "The most important thing is he feels great; after 45 pitches, this is the one, you wonder if there will be some soreness involved, but really not the case today."