The A's have the league's best ERA - and they still have three members of the rotation waiting in the wings to come off the disabled list.
Brett Anderson could be back with the team in about three weeks. He said Tuesday that if his bullpen session goes well this week, he will go to Class-A Stockton on Saturday.
"It's getting close," he said. "You only get so much adrenaline pitching a simulated game in Phoenix. Pitching in a setting with a crowd, there will be a lot more adrenaline. I'll feel like a normal baseball player again."
Anderson, who had Tommy John surgery a year ago, threw a three-inning simulated game Monday and allowed one hit, a single by June draft pick Matt Olson.
If he throws 45 pitches Saturday, as expected, he is likely to have three or four rehab starts, which would mean a return to the A's the second week of August.
Brandon McCarthy, who is dealing with repeat shoulder issues, said he will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, and if that goes well he hopes to throw another, then throw to hitters and after that rejoin the A's rotation. A rehab outing for McCarthy might be counterproductive; the A's need him to throw as many innings as possible for them considering the likelihood of future shoulder discomfort.
Considering the A's many good arms and McCarthy's chronic shoulder inflammation, might a six-man rotation help him?
"It could not hurt me," he said.
The A's also want to limit rookie Jarrod Parker's innings, and a six-man rotation could provide both with extra rest, though the team has not indicated any plans to super-size the rotation.
Dallas Braden (shoulder-capsule surgery) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session, using all his pitches, and he "bounded off the mound" afterward, according to manager Bob Melvin.
Briefly: Center fielder Coco Crisp remained out with left shoulder soreness, but Melvin said that an MRI showed no structural damage. ... Outfielder Collin Cowgill (ankle) came off the DL and was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. ... Owner Lew Wolff said Commissioner Bud Selig called him Tuesday not to talk about the A's stadium situation "but to tell me how excited he is to see how well this team is playing."
Wednesday
vs. Rangers
12:35 p.m. CSNCA
Lewis (6-6) vs. Blackley (2-2)
Thursday
vs. Yankees
7:05 p.m. CSNCA
Garcia (4-2) vs. Griffin (1-0)
Friday
vs. Yankees
7:05 p.m. CSNCA
Nova (10-4) vs. Milone (9-6)
Wait ends Wednesday: Travis Blackley will make his first appearance since three innings of relief against Seattle on July 7. It's not his longest layoff. In 2007, he started for the Giants 2 1/2 weeks after the Triple-A season ended.
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