A's Kotsay: Miller broke hand slamming table

The Oakland Athletics are placing All-Star closer Mason Miller on the injured list with a broken left hand, the club announced Thursday.

Miller sustained the injury by "pounding his fist on a padded training table out of frustration," A's manager Mark Kotsay said, according to Brent Maguire of MLB.com.

There had been some speculation about the injury's origin before Kotsay's clarification. Kotsay noted that "Mason's agent might have thought differently and made a statement of his own," while also stating that "in this organization, (we) tell the truth."

The 25-year-old retired the Houston Astros in order on 11 pitches but didn't record a strikeout during Monday's 4-0 victory.

Miller has developed into the most dominant reliever in baseball this season. He owns a league-best 15.49 K/9 with 15 saves, a 2.21 ERA, and a 1.69 FIP across 34 appearances for the Athletics.

The Athletics could turn to right-hander Lucas Erceg to close in Miller's absence. Erceg has a pair of saves with a 3.89 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings this season.