ARLINGTON -- The A's are performing better than ever, even without their Opening Day starter in tip-top form.
Right-hander Kendall Graveman, who will enter his Wednesday start against the Rangers with a 10.07 ERA, is anxious to join the party, and it remains to be seen just how good the A's can be when he's on his game.
"I'm excited about jumping on board and getting it rolling, too," Graveman said Tuesday. "That, for me, is the next step, helping this team win. I'm excited where I'm headed, where I'm trending."
Graveman last week showcased a modified delivery against the Red Sox, keeping his hands near his belt as opposed to bringing them over his head, and he'll use it again Wednesday. He also utilized his changeup with more frequency, loosening his grip on the pitch after watching new teammate Trevor Cahill at work.
The results were encouraging: Graveman's lone blemish was a three-run homer to Jackie Bradley Jr., and he responded by retiring 11 in a row. He was lifted following a string of three singles in the sixth, and reliever Emilio Pagan surrendered a grand slam, leaving Graveman responsible for six runs.
"The mindset is good," Graveman said. "No issues there. I thought I made really good pitches last week and had a good bullpen session this week, kept it shorter than I have been to save some of my arm, and I just want to continue to focus on location."
Graveman will continue to play the changeup off his signature sinker, too, saying, "For three years, I threw everything pretty hard, and guys knew it, and I was beating people with it, and now the game is screaming at me to continue to develop and change and to get better, and we're always striving to get better."
"[Graveman] made a lot of adjustments," A's manager Bob Melvin said. I thought at first maybe a little bit extreme, and then the pitch complement was quite different, but that's what you do when you're struggling, you gotta make some adjustments, and I think he did a nice job with it. Hopefully he takes some confidence to the mound. It's just a matter of time before he gets going, in our opinion. "
Petit leaves team
Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit left the A's on Tuesday to be with his family in Venezuela following the death of his mother, Rubia. Petit, who was placed on the bereavement list, learned the news of his mom's passing before Monday's game, yet still managed to toss 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

"I'm amazed, and then gets hit on top of it, remains in the game, finishes that inning and goes back out and gets two other hitters out," Melvin said. "I didn't expect it. Obviously appreciated it.
"We all had heavy hearts for him. He really wanted to pitch, and I was not going to use him in that game unless he really wanted to."

In his place, right-hander Lou Trivino rejoined the A's for a second time. He made his big league debut April 17 and tossed a scoreless inning against the White Sox. The right-hander picked up his first win the next day when he compiled three shutout innings in the A's 12-11, 14-inning win over Chicago.
Hendriks to undergo minor procedure
Reliever Liam Hendriks was expected to have an operation Tuesday to remove a cyst from his hip joint. He was also scheduled to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to relieve a tear in one of the hip muscles, per A's head trainer Nick Paparesta.
The procedure, which will relieve the groin discomfort that put Hendriks on the disabled list April 14, was to be orchestrated by noted hip specialist Dr. Marc Phillopon in Vail. Colo. Paparesta deemed it "relatively minor."
Per Paparesta, Hendriks will rest for at least 10 days and could be throwing off the mound within a few weeks.