Oakland Athletics Team Report

INSIDE PITCH When Justin Duchscherer returns to the Oakland roster, it will be as a starting pitcher rather than in the bullpen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Manager Bob Geren told the newspaper that Duchscherer is being rehabbed as a starting pitcher as he recovers from March elbow surgery. Geren added that the team wants Duchscherer pitching in whatever role keeps him healthiest. That is why there had been some internal discussion about having Duchscherer return to the bullpen, where there might be less wear and tear. Duchscherer, an All-Star as both a starter and as a reliever, has been on the disabled list five times in the past four years. He had an arthroscopic procedure in late March to clean up his elbow. Duchscherer, who will be a free agent after the season, has been clear about the fact that he'd prefer starting to relief work. He told the Chronicle that he had figured he'd be starting based on his current throwing program. He said he is throwing long toss at a distance of 120 feet and he should start throwing off the mound soon. He told the paper that his arm "feels great" and that he believes he can return to the team right around when he is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on June 4.NOTES, QUOTESLHP Brett Anderson (blister) will start Saturday at Detroit if Dallas Braden is able to take his regular turn on Friday. Braden was hit by a line drive on his left hand on Sunday but he remained in the game. If Braden cannot go, Anderson is likely to take the mound Friday at Detroit if he has had no more blister problems on his left index finger.RHP Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect inning in a rehab appearance with Class A Stockton on Saturday night. Casilla, who is out with a right knee strain, will make a rehab appearance with Class AAA Sacramento on Tuesday before joining the A's in Detroit for Friday's game.BY THE NUMBERS: 100 Games since Oakland's last complete game, a franchise record for consecutive games without a complete game, topping the previous mark of 96 set from June 21, 1997, to April 10, 1998. Justin Duchscherer threw the team's last complete game on July 8.QUOTE TO NOTE: "It looked like a ball of cotton candy hanging from my wrist." LHP Dallas Braden, who continued to pitch with a severely swollen left hand on Sunday after being hit by a line drive by Vernon Wells.ROSTER REPORTC Kurt Suzuki has 25 hits in his last 67 at-bats with nine doubles, two homers and 14 RBI in his past 17 games. Suzuki is batting .234 against left-handers and .381 against right-handers, mimicking the team-wide trend that has left the A's 3-11 against left-handed starters this season. DH/1B Jason Giambi has 11 hits in his last 70 at-bats over 20 games after hitting .346 in the first seven games of the season. Giambi has 399 career homers, tied for 44th all-time. He has 190 homers with the A's, 10th most in franchise history.INF Bobby Crosby has 11 hits in his last 33 at-bats with eight walks in the past 11 games and he is playing regularly at third and at first base because of injuries to Eric Chavez and Nomar Garciaparra. Crosby has been the A's third-leading hitter much of the first five weeks, but it's unclear how much he'll play when Chavez and Garciaparra return from the disabled list in the next week.DH/OF Jack Cust has eight hits in his last 23 at-bats with a walk and just two strikeouts in the past six games. He's among the A.L. leaders in walks, with 20, and he is one of two A's players, along with SS Orlando Cabrera, to start all 29 games this year. MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Dallas Braden (left hand) was hit by a line drive May 10 but kept pitching and is not expected to miss a start. LHP Brett Anderson (blister on left index finger) left his April 28 and May 4 starts because of the ailment. He missed his May 9 start. 3B Eric Chavez (sore right forearm and elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25. He hopes to return May 15. RHP Santiago Casilla (sprained right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Stockton on May 9, and he could be activated May 15. INF Nomar Garciaparra (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. The injury had dogged him for weeks. 2B Mark Ellis (left calf strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. He will miss four to six weeks. RHP Justin Duchscherer (arthroscopic elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. He could resume pitching in late May. There is a chance that when he is able to throw off the mound, he will be moved into the bullpen to try to safeguard his health. RHP Joey Devine (sore right elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He had Tommy John surgery April 21, and he is out for the season. ROTATION: LHP Dallas Braden RHP Trevor Cahill LHP Brett Anderson LHP Josh Outman RHP Sean Gallagher BULLPEN: RHP Brad Ziegler (closer) RHP Russ Springer RHP Michael Wuertz RHP Andrew Bailey RHP Kevin Cameron LHP Jerry Blevins RHP Dan Giese RHP Jeff Gray CATCHERS: Kurt Suzuki Landon Powell INFIELDERS: 1B Jason Giambi 2B Adam Kennedy SS Orlando Cabrera 3B Bobby Crosby INF Jack Hannahan OUTFIELDERS: LF Matt Holliday CF Ryan Sweeney RF Travis Buck DH Jack Cust OF Rajai Davis