--C Kurt Suzuki could be back in the lineup Friday in Seattle after missing the previous two games. The second-year player, who has started 133 games at catcher (the most in the league), incurred a deep bruise on his right hip while blocking the plate against Texas' Chris Davis on Monday. He has caught 138 games this year, the sixth-highest total in Oakland history.
--LHP Gio Gonzalez has pitched twice in relief since being moved to the bullpen, and he has thrown three scoreless innings, all against Texas, striking out two. Manager Bob Geren said emphatically that the team still considers Gonzalez a starter and that he is only in the bullpen to work on a few things at the end of the season. Gonzalez was acquired in the Nick Swisher deal with the White Sox in January. --RHP Huston Street is 5-0 with one blown save and a 1.37 ERA in his past 17 outings. That followed a stretch in which he was 1-4 with five saves, four blown saves and a 7.11 ERA, which resulted in his removal from the closer spot. He has five wins in his past 15 outings and a career-high seven for the season.
--OF Travis Buck is 11-for-31 since being recalled from Class AAA Sacramento on Sept. 16. He has homered five times in his past 18 games after going homerless in his first 17 games with Oakland. Buck has not committed an error in 114 career games.
--OF Aaron Cunningham is 2-for-22 after putting together four straight multi-hit games (during which he hit .471). The rookie has 14 RBIs in the first 21 games of his career. He has started 19 of 23 games since coming up on Aug. 30.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3.98 -- The A's average number of runs per game this season, through Sept. 19, the first time the team has scored less than four runs per game since 1979.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't want to miss any time next season. I think I'm too (darn) good to be sitting on the sidelines." -- RHP Justin Duchscherer, discussing his concerns that his hip injury will linger into next year if the cause of his discomfort isn't found.
