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The Athletics transferred Sterner (knee) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
After undergoing right knee surgery Friday, Sterner had already been ruled out for the rest of the season. His move to the 60-day injured list is merely procedural, as it opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver pickup Joe Rock. The 29-year-old Sterner logged a 6.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB over 42.2 innings out of the bullpen before hitting the shelf July 18.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Done for season after knee surgery
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The Athletics announced Friday that Sterner underwent right knee surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
Sterner underwent a "chondroplasty of the medial femoral condyle" and also received a PRP injection. The 29-year-old appeared in 46 games out of the Athletics' bullpen this season, logging a 6.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB across 42.2 innings. He hasn't pitched since July 17.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Set to see knee specialist
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Sterner will see a knee specialist at Stanford this week, per MLB.com.
Sterner, who landed on the injured list July 18 due to right knee chondromalacia, recently felt increased soreness when throwing, prompting a visit with a specialist. A more formal timeline for his return should emerge following the right-hander's appointment. Prior to hitting the shelf, Sterner posted a 6.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB across 42.2 innings of relief work.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Lands on IL
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The Athletics placed Sterner on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right knee chondromalacia.
Sterner gave up six earned runs in just one-third of an inning during Friday's contest, and he'll now be sidelined until at least Aug. 2 due to his knee injury. Geoff Hartlieb will come up from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill the vacancy in the Athletics' bullpen.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Secures save Wednesday
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Sterner earned his first save of the season in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Cubs. He tossed a perfect inning while striking out one.
Scott Barlow pitched two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's series opener against the Cubs, so the A's turned to Justin Sterner for the save in the bottom of the 10th inning Wednesday. This was Sterner's first save of the season, and he needed just 14 pitches (10 strikes) to get the job done. The 29-year-old has been on a roll of late and hasn't allowed a run in any of his last five outings (5.1 innings). He's now 1-for-2 in save chances, but he's not expected to take the closer role any time soon.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Works scoreless frame Sunday
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Sterner threw a perfect inning with no strikeouts in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Giants.
Sterner entered in the seventh inning and retired the bottom of the Giants' lineup to keep the Athletics within one run before an eight-run, eighth-inning implosion turned the contest into a blowout. Over his past seven appearances (5.2 innings), the right-hander has allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four. Overall, Sterner owns a 4.03 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with a 23:7 K:BB across 22.1 frames in 2026.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Picks up first win
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Sterner (1-2) earned the win in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Rangers. He allowed a hit and no walks while striking out two over a scoreless inning.
Entering for Jacob Lopez after he failed to record an out in the sixth inning, Sterner worked out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve a one-run lead that the Athletics held the rest of the way. With starter J.T. Ginn (shoulder) exiting after 3.1 innings and Joel Kuhnel and Lopez combining to provide limited length and effectiveness, the official scorer awarded Sterner the win, his first of the season. Since allowing four runs in a blown save against the Rangers on April 16, the 29-year-old has turned in five scoreless innings and owns a 3.07 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with an 18:5 K:BB across 14.2 innings in 2026.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Implodes in second loss
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Sterner (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Sterner was called upon for his first save chance of the year while the Athletics held a 6-5 advantage, but he was unable to protect the lead in the ninth inning. While the A's have a pretty wide open competition when it comes to save opportunities, Sterner isn't making much of a case for future chances. The right-hander owns a 4.66 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB over 9.2 innings thus far.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Collects third hold
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Sterner allowed no hits and a walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Thursday's win against the Yankees.
Entering in the eighth inning following seven stellar frames from Jeffrey Springs, Sterner had no trouble keeping the Yankees' bats quiet as he collected his third hold of the campaign. After allowing a run in his first outing, the right-hander has delivered 6.1 scoreless innings over his past five appearances. He has yet to be used in a save situation, but Sterner's strong early performances have earned him high-leverage work and, given the lack of an established closer for the A's, could lead to future opportunities in the ninth inning.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Could be outside closer mix
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Sterner has given up four runs on four hits while striking out 12 and walking three across six innings during spring training, and Jason Burke of SI.com didn't list him as a closer candidate for the A's.
Sterner was effective as a rookie last season with 16 holds to go along with a 3.18 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 70:21 K:BB across 65 innings, though he didn't pick up any saves, even after closer Mason Miller was traded away at the deadline. Burke listed Hogan Harris as the early favorite for saves with Scott Barlow and Mark Leiter also in the mix, though manager Mark Kostay isn't expected to utilize a true closer in the traditional sense. Sterner still figures to pick up some saves this season if he pitches similarly to 2025.
Sterner struck out the side in a perfect inning during Wednesday's 7-0 win over the Tigers.
Sterner retired the side on strikeouts in the eighth inning Wednesday, the first time this season he's done so in order. The right-hander has been sharp in August, posting a 1.98 ERA and 0.59 WHIP across 13.2 innings in 11 appearances.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Summoned to big leagues
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The Athletics recalled Sterner from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Sterner was unscored upon in 24 of his first 25 appearances in the majors this season but was sent down earlier this month after allowing nine runs (eight earned) across his last two innings. He could work his way back into some high-leverage appearances but will likely be used in the middle innings initially.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Moving to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Sterner to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Sterner will head to the minors just one day after he made his first MLB start. While serving as an opening pitcher in front of bulk reliever Jeffrey Springs, Sterner took his third loss of the season after giving up a solo home run in his lone inning. The Athletics reinstated T.J. McFarland (groin) from the injured list in a corresponding move.
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Athletics' Justin Sterner: Opening Wednesday
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Sterner will serve as the opener in Wednesday's game against Minnesota.
Sterner has allowed eight runs (seven earned) in one combined inning across his last three appearances, so the A's will now see if a role change might help him get back on track. He likely won't last more than an inning before handing things off to Jeffrey Springs, who's expected to pitch in bulk relief.
Sterner allowed a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Rangers. He's thrown 14.2 scoreless innings to begin the season.
Sterner has an impressive 29.6% strikeout rate and hasn't allowed a Barrel this season. However, he's been a bit lucky with a 14.8% walk rate and a .200 BABIP. His early success could find him used in higher-leverage spots as he's mostly worked in middle relief thus far.
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