The beginning of Bedard's Mariners career didn't go as planned after Seattle traded five players to Baltimore for the left-handed ace in the offseason.

Bedard (1-0, 3.27 ERA) only allowed four earned runs in 11 innings in his first two starts, but he walked eight and allowed three home runs. Even worse, he was placed on the DL retroactive to April 9 due to inflammation in his hip.

After a pair of pain-free bullpen sessions this week, Bedard is optimistic about his status, but he has expressed concern that the injury could be a chronic problem.

"My next start, we'll see," he said earlier this month. "If it still hurts after that, then maybe it will be a long-term thing."

Duchscherer, meanwhile, is set to return from a strained biceps that resulted from his first start since 2003. A longtime A's reliever, Duchscherer allowed just one run on four hits in five innings in his only outing this year against Cleveland on April 4 before going on the DL.

A's manager Bob Geren said that he expects Duchscherer (1-0, 1.80) to throw between 70 and 85 pitches Saturday. The right-hander isn't concerned despite allowing five hits and two runs in 2 2-3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento Monday.

"I did what I wanted to do, and that was go out and just pound the strike zone and get my mechanics right," Duchscherer told his team's official Web site.

He'll try to pitch the surprising A's (15-9) to their fourth straight win, and though he likely won't pitch deep into the game, he'll turn it over to an Oakland bullpen that has not allowed a run in its last 12 1-3 innings. Santiago Casilla and Andrew Brown have combined to throw 26 1-3 innings of relief this year without allowing an earned run.

The A's only managed three hits on Friday, but still beat the Mariners 4-3, as an impressive defensive play by shortstop Bobby Crosby preserved the lead in the ninth inning.

Thought to be in a rebuilding year at the start of the season, Oakland has won six of seven, and is tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the AL's best record. The A's have already clinched their first winning April since 2003.

Seattle, on the other hand, is looking to avoid a fourth straight loss. The Mariners (11-13) have lost each of their last three games by one run, all at home. They're just 1-7 in one-run games this year, and they've dropped five of their last seven at Safeco Field.

They're hoping Bedard will last longer than Miguel Batista, who left his start Friday after just one inning with a groin injury.

Bedard has made seven starts against Oakland, all as an Oriole. Baltimore lost each of Bedard's first six career outings against the A's, but he finally beat Oakland last July 20, allowing just one hit - a Mark Ellis sixth-inning home run - and striking out 11 in seven innings.

Duchscherer, meanwhile, is 0-4 in his career against the Mariners in 29 appearances, losing his only two starts in 2001 and 2003.