HOUSTON -- Left-hander Sean Manaea has not played catch since exiting a start on Wednesday after pitching only two innings. He departed the game early against the Angels due to tightness in his throwing shoulder and could end up on the 10-day disabled list.
Manaea is unlikely to make his next scheduled start for the A's on Tuesday at Minnesota. If Manaea doesn't start, A's manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Sonny Gray would likely start that day and Kendall Graveman would follow with a start on Wednesday.
"It's really doubtful he's going to make his next start," Melvin said. "Whether or not it's the DL or not, we're not 100 percent sure at this point. But he will have to feel a lot better in the next couple of days to make his next start. We're contemplating [DL] right now. It ends up being either one day short of the DL, or if you DL, day after. So we're not ruling out the DL."
Gray, who has rejoined the team after throwing six scoreless innings in Thursday's rehab start, said he's healthy and ready to face Major League hitters again after his sharp outing for Triple-A Nashville.
"The only thing I can really go off is hitters' reaction and the way I feel as its coming out of my hand," Gray said. "It felt really good. There's nothing holding me back. I feel ready to go."
Melvin was encouraged by the reports on Gray's rehab performance, which included no walks, seven strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
"For me, the thing that stood out the most was the command," Melvin said. "He was throwing his fastball where he wanted to, he was bouncing his breaking ball when he wanted to. He looked like he was throwing free and easy.
"We talk about the psychology of pitching well before you come back. The two starts that he had would suggest that not only is he physically ready, he's mentally ready."