--3B Eric Chavez was scheduled to make his first career start at first base on Wednesday night in Texas because Jason Giambi was sidelined by strained hamstrings, but the game was rained out. Chavez has played one inning at first base -- replacing Giambi -- on Aug. 21, 2001. Chavez is expected to be back at third in two or three days, but his throwing has been hampered by a right elbow strain.
--LHP Brett Anderson's next start has been pushed back from Sunday to Monday because of Wednesday night's rainout. That will give the rookie more time to recover from a blistered left index finger, which knocked him out of Tuesday night's game in the sixth inning. Anderson told reporters Wednesday that the extra day should be plenty to allow him to be ready to start Monday. --RHP Justin Duchscherer will begin playing light catch Wednesday, which is four weeks since he had his right elbow cleaned out in an arthroscopic procedure. Duchscherer told the San Francisco Chronicle he believes that he can be pitching in a game in a month. It is not clear if the A's will bring him back as a starter or as a reliever, at least initially.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Home runs Jason Giambi needed as of April 26 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.
