The Oakland A’s activated outfielder Matt Joyce from the 10-day disabled list on Friday, the team announced. To make room on the roster, fellow outfielder Jake Smolinski was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
Joyce last played on June 2 before missing nearly three weeks with a back strain. He’s struggled at the plate for most of the season, but for what it’s worth the injury had reportedly been a problem for a while even before he landed on the DL. He also started slow in 2017 before heating up for the final four-plus months.
Joyce, 2018: .