One of the reasons the A's offense struggled in the early going: the left-handed heavy Oakland lineup faced lefty starters 10 times in the first 15 games and the team went 2-10 in those games. Nomar Garciaparra, acquired to be the A's primary right-handed bat off the bench, was unavailable much of that stretch because of calf tightness, and he hit .188 against lefties in the six games he did play against them.
PLAYER NEWS: --3B Eric Chavez was scratched with what the A's described as a sore right forearm before Thursday's game. Chavez had been penciled into the lineup at third for the first time in six days. He's been limited by a sore elbow the past two weeks, and the A's said the forearm problem was related to the elbow. He is likely to go on the disabled list.
--1B Jason Giambi did not start because of strained hamstrings. Giambi said he had been favoring his sore left hamstring of late and as a result, he strained the right one while beating out an infield hit Tuesday. He pinch-hit in the seventh inning Thursday and lined out. Manager Bob Geren said he Giambi is probable to start Friday at Seattle.
--OF Ryan Sweeney has a team-high nine-game hitting streak after going 2-for-5 at Texas. Sweeney is batting .333 on the road, but just .184 in Oakland. Sweeney is now 6-for-10 against Texas starter Vicente Padilla.
MEDICAL WATCH:
1B Jason Giambi (strained hamstrings) was not in the starting lineup April 30, but he is probable for May 1.
3B Eric Chavez (strained right elbow, sore right forearm) didn't play April 26-30. He is likely headed to the disabled list.
RHP Brad Ziegler (illness) was unavailable for the April 30 game.
RHP Santiago Casilla (right calf tightness) left the April 28 game and didn't pitch April 29-30. He is day-to-day.
LHP Dallas Braden (groin) left the April 26 game and is day-to-day.
LHP Brett Anderson (blister on left index finger) left the April 28 game. He is expected to be ready for his May 4 start.
INF Nomar Garciaparra (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. The injury had dogged him for weeks.
2B Mark Ellis (left calf strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29.
RHP Justin Duchscherer (arthroscopic elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. There is a chance that when he is able to throw off the mound, he will be moved into the bullpen to try to safeguard his health. He is expected to return in early May.
OF Ben Copeland (sprained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Copeland is a Rule 5 draftee from the Giants.
RHP Joey Devine (sore right elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He had Tommy John surgery April 21, and he is out for the season.
ROTATION:
LHP Dallas Braden
RHP Trevor Cahill
LHP Dana Eveland
LHP Brett Anderson
LHP Josh Outman
BULLPEN:
RHP Brad Ziegler (closer)
RHP Russ Springer
RHP Santiago Casilla
RHP Michael Wuertz
RHP Dan Giese
RHP Andrew Bailey
RHP Kevin Cameron
CATCHERS:
Kurt Suzuki
Landon Powell
INFIELDERS:
1B Jason Giambi
2B Bobby Crosby
SS Orlando Cabrera
3B Eric Chavez
INF Eric Patterson
INF Jack Hannahan
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Matt Holliday
CF Ryan Sweeney
RF Travis Buck
DH Jack Cust
OF Rajai Davis
