Athletics' Mark Canha to undergo MRI on left hip

Athletics outfielder Mark Canha left Thursday’s 5-1 Oakland victory over the Rangers after two innings due to a left hip strain, manager Bob Melvin told Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News and other reporters.  Canha will receive an MRI to explore the problem, which Melvin indicated has been bothering the outfielder.

One of the sport’s more underrated players, Canha would represent a big loss to the Oakland lineup if he had to miss any time on the injured list.  Since the start of the 2018 season, only 22 qualified players in baseball have posted a higher wRC+ than Canha’s total of 133, as the outfielder has hit .258/.372/.466 with 59 home runs over the last four seasons.  Canha’s ability to play all three outfield positions (and some first base, in a pinch) has made him even more valuable to the A’s roster.

Canha has mostly played as a left fielder this year, though he saw a lot of everyday center field duties when Ramon Laureano was on the IL.  Laureano is now back but Stephen Piscotty was sidelined with a wrist sprain earlier this week, so the A’s will be rather shorthanded should Canha also require an IL placement.  Tony Kemp, Seth Brown, Chad Pinder, and Skye Bolt are all candidates for corner outfield playing time, with Kemp in particular having a very strong year as both a part-time outfielder and a platoon partner with Jed Lowrie at second base.