--RHP Rich Harden (subscapularis strain) is set to make a rehab start for Class AAA Sacramento on Thursday after doing a vigorous long-toss session plus a 25-pitch side-session Monday. Harden's last start for Oakland came on April 2. If he makes a second rehab start, as is the current plan, his possible return date looks like May 11 at Texas or May 13 at Cleveland, depending on how the team shuffles the rest of the rotation.
--RHP Keith Foulke (neck soreness) will throw in an extended spring game Friday and then his condition will be reassessed. If all goes well, it is possible that Foulke could be back in the bullpen on the team"s next home stand. If so, LHP Dallas Braden is likely to be the odd man out. --OF Travis Buck (shin splints) was going to try to run and to shag fly balls before the A's game at Anaheim on Monday. If he can do so two or three days in row without pain, Buck is likely to go on a rehab assignment soon. Buck's rehab assignment will be as much about regaining his stroke as recovering from the shin problem. When was placed on the disabled list, he was batting an AL-low .154.
--RHP Santiago Casilla has not allowed a run in 13 1/3 innings this year. Casilla's streak totals 17 1/3 innings, dating back to last season.
--RHP Andrew Brown hasn't allowed an earned run in 12 outings, covering 15 innings. That's the most innings without an earned run among AL relievers, but Brown's teammate, Santiago Casilla, isn't far behind, at 13 1/3 innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 17 -- The number of years since the A' have started a season this well. They were also 15-9 after the first 24 games in 1992. Oakland has recorded its first winning record in April since 2002.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The risk and reward make it worth it. We'd be crazy not to take a chance on someone like Frank -- if we don't sign him and he goes out and hits 30 homers and drives in 90 runs, we're the bigger fool." -- A's general manager Billy Beane, on picking up DH Frank Thomas.
