Return of A’s starter Henderson Alvarez could be delayed

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A struggling A’s rotation has received more bad news: The return of Henderson Alvarez could be delayed.

In what was expected to be his final rehab start, the right-hander allowed two earned runs and recorded eight strikeouts in five innings of Triple-A Nashville’s 6-3 win Sunday over Fresno. He exited an inning early with shoulder soreness and returned to Oakland to meet with team doctors Monday night.

“He feels a little better than he did yesterday, so we’ll probably know more after the doctors take a look at him,” manager Bob Melvin said. “This is kind of his first little setback.”

Alvarez could have an MRI as soon as Monday. It appears unlikely he’ll start during this weekend’s four-game series with the Yankees, which was his targeted return date before Sunday’s appearance with Nashville.

This marks yet another blow for a starting pitching staff that entered Monday 4-14 with a 7.86 ERA over its past 21 games. Alvarez, who signed a one-year contract with Oakland in December, hasn’t appeared in a major-league game since last May.

In 22.2 innings for High-A Stockton and Nashville, the 26-year-old Venezuelan has allowed eight earned runs on 18 hits and six walks. He has tallied 20 strikeouts and surrendered just two home runs. When healthy, the 2014 NL All-Star should offer a measure of stability to a rotation that owns the AL’s worst ERA.

“We’re looking forward to his return,” Melvin said. “There’s a chance it’s going to be a little bit longer than we were hoping here. Everything had gone so well, but typically you will get a bump in the road from time to time. That’s the case it is with him.”

Pitching changes loom: Right-hander Jesse Hahn is no longer scheduled to start Tuesday in Nashville. When asked about the switch, Melvin said he’d probably announce a change to the A’s rotation later.

This is a 2016 photo of Henderson Alvarez of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. This image reflects the Oakland Athletics active roster as of Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) less This is a 2016 photo of Henderson Alvarez of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. This image reflects the Oakland Athletics active roster as of Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Chris ... more Photo: Chris Carlson, AP Photo: Chris Carlson, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Return of A’s starter Henderson Alvarez could be delayed 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Hahn, who is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in five Triple-A starts this season, could be called up to replace one of several players. Starters Eric Surkamp, Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea have all labored through rough outings of late.

Rangers suspensions: MLB’s chief baseball officer, Joe Torre, told The Wall Street Journal Monday that he expects to announce the suspensions from Sunday’s Blue Jays-Rangers brawl on Tuesday. For Texas, shortstop Rougned Odor and pitcher Matt Bush are in line for suspensions.

“You see any number of those over the course of the season,” Melvin said of the brawl, which included Odor punching Jose Bautista after a hard slide by the Toronto outfielder. “It looked pretty spirited, and it probably had some history to it. But unless you’re there and know exactly what’s going on, it’s tough to comment on that.”

Briefly: Second baseman Jed Lowrie continues to progress from the shin contusion that landed him on the 15-day DL. Two days after hitting off a tee, he fielded ground balls during batting practice Monday. … Melvin hasn’t ruled out the possibility of placing catcher Josh Phegley (knee) on the DL. Phegley is “looking better” since having a recent cortisone shot for right knee inflammation, Melvin said, but “we’ll have to look at potentially doing something” if Phegley can’t play this weekend.

A’s lineup: LF Crisp, CF Burns, RF Reddick, 3B Valencia, DH Davis, 1B Butler, SS Semien, C McBride, 2B Ladendorf.

Rangers lineup: 2B Odor, SS Andrus, RF Mazara, DH Beltre, CF Desmond, 1B Rua, LF Stubbs, C Wilson, 3B Alberto.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron