video thumbnail

LAA@SEA: Weaver tosses six solid frames

When the A's and Angels met a week ago, Oakland found itself in first place in the American League West for the first time since June 3.

Since then, however, the A's have been on a five-game skid that included two losses to the struggling Twins and a sweep at the hands of the cross-bay rival Giants, and have lost starting pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Tyson Ross to the disabled list.

"Every single time somebody gets injured, it's a disappointment, a major disappointment," A's manager Bob Geren said. "But to sink your head and say, 'Why us?' or 'Why me?' -- it's not worth doing that. You have to look forward, not backward. We're fortunate that position-player-wise we've been pretty healthy."

Starting in place of McCarthy, who is out with a stress reaction in his right shoulder, is Josh Outman. Outman, 26, will make his first start in the Majors since July 2009 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in eight starts for Triple-A Sacramento.

"I haven't seen him this year," Geren said. "He's been in Triple-A, obviously. Before he got hurt, he was a power pitcher, a left-hander. He threw 95 miles per hour, sometimes even higher, impressive."

While the A's have struggled since finding themselves atop the division, scoring just nine runs in the five games since the teams' last meeting, the Angels haven't fared much better, despite taking two of three from the Braves.

However, both teams remain within striking distance in a log-jammed AL West heading into Monday's matchup, and the Angels will send out Jared Weaver (6-4, 3.45 ERA) to try to spoil Outman's return to the Majors.

Athletics: Bailey scheduled to pitch Monday
A's two-time All-Star reliever Andrew Bailey is scheduled to make his second Minor League rehab appearance Monday for Sacramento.

Bailey, recovering from a forearm injury that has kept him out all season, made his first rehab outing Friday, tossing one inning in Sacramento. He threw 16 pitches and struck out one batter. Bailey hopes to return soon to the A's bullpen.

• Grant Balfour's 14 2/3 inning scoreless streak was snapped Sunday, when he gave up a two-run home run to Nate Schierholtz in the eighth. It tied the longest scoreless streak of Balfour's career.

Angels: Kazmir ready for rehab start
After a rough few months, Scott Kazmir is finally ready to get back into the swing of things. On Tuesday, the Angels' hurler will make his first rehab start since being placed on the DL April 8 with soreness in his lower back.

"I'm feeling good, I have made a lot of strides," Kazmir said. "To be able to get in competition and work on stuff is really important. I am making progress."

Worth noting
The A's have taken three of five games against the Angels this season, but they dropped two of three in Anaheim.

MLB.com Comments