Athletics All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz received a clean MRI of his left forearm on Thursday and is in the starting lineup for the contest against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
Kurtz was hit by a pitch on the forearm by Boston lefty Patrick Sandoval in the first inning of Wednesday’s contest. He stayed in to run the bases and left after the inning.
X-rays were described as “unclear,” according to A’s manager Mark Kotsay, which led to further imaging on Thursday. The Athletics called the injury a contusion.
Kurtz is batting leadoff and playing first base in the finale of the four-game series. Boston won two of the first three games.
Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game because of the thumb injury.
Kurtz is in a 1-for-30 slump over his past 10 games. The hit was a three-run homer against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Overall, Kurtz is batting .260 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs in 97 games this season.
–Field Level Media
