Swap out in the bullpen
The A’s announced on Friday afternoon that left-hander Jacob Lopez was being recalled from Triple-A, with righty Jason Alexander being optioned to make room:
The Athletics have recalled left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Alexander to Las Vegas.
— A’s Communications (@AthleticsPR) April 18, 2025
Lopez will slide right into Alexander’s role as a second long man in the bullpen, just left-handed. The 27-year old was acquired this off-season in the same trade that brought fellow lefty Jeffrey Springs to the A’s. While not the headline acquisition of that transaction Lopez was more than a throw-in. He has steadily climbed the minor league ladder since getting drafted by the San Francisco Giants way back in 2018 and made his big league debut in 2023.
Lopez has generally been a starting pitcher since getting drafted but he does have experience coming out of the bullpen and even has a few saves in the minors. So far this season in Triple-A he’s pitched in three games, two of which were starts. In his 14 1⁄3 innings with the Aviators he’s allowed just four runs while striking out 22 batters. Hopefully he can keep those strikeout numbers up coming out of the bullpen for the A’s.
The right-handed Alexander meanwhile will return to Triple-A after making three relief appearances for the Athletics. In 3 2⁄3 innings he allowed four runs (three earned). All of that damage came in his second outing against the Mets but his other two outings were clean with just one hit allowed and four strikeouts. He’ll head back to the minor leagues and will likely slot back into the Aviators’ starting rotation, ready to help the A’s when they need him again.