--3B Eric Chavez will try to throw before Tuesday's game at Texas after missing Sunday with an elbow strain. Chavez said he had to throw from a lower angle after jamming his surgically repaired right shoulder while diving back to first base on April 10, and he believes that caused the elbow pain. If he can't go Tuesday, he is expected to get more tests on the elbow and shoulder.
--LHP Dallas Braden is fine after incurring a minor groin injury in his start Saturday, according to manager Bob Geren. Braden missed the final two-plus weeks of 2008 with a groin strain and he said it was just a matter of time before it cropped up again, so he was lifted in the sixth inning as a precaution. --RHP Sean Gallagher, sent down to Class AAA Sacramento to log some innings after being used only 3 1/3 innings with Oakland the first two-and-a-half weeks of the season, had a strong first appearance for the River Cats. Gallagher pitched three hitless, scoreless innings, walking one and striking out four. Gallagher was obtained in the Rich Harden deal with the Cubs last year and there is a strong chance he will be back in the Oakland rotation at some point this season.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Home runs for Jason Giambi to get to the 400 mark for his career, something 43 players have done.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know the feeling, especially coming to a new team. He just needs to relax; we tell him that all the time. He's not doing that bad. Maybe he's just swinging too hard." -- Jason Giambi, on Matt Holliday's slow start.
