Cautious A's schedule another sim game for Anderson

CINCINNATI -- Though all signs pointed to Brett Anderson beginning a rehab assignment this week, the A's have yet to decide when that time will actually come, as they continue to be guarded with their lefty.

Anderson threw live batting practice for the second time in four days Tuesday, this time without a screen in Stockton, Calif., home of the Class A Ports. He threw two sets of 31 pitches "and everything went fine," manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday.

Despite already building up to nearly 70 pitches, Anderson is scheduled to throw his third simulated game Saturday, rather than make a rehab start.

"We're really trying to make sure he's able to handle it with the foot," Melvin said. "We've been down this road once before, too, and [the injury] came back, so we're being pretty careful with that."

Anderson suffered a right ankle sprain that forced him to miss a start in April, only to enter the game in relief and pitch 5 1/3 innings of a 19-inning win against the Angels. Ultimately, the injury turned into a stress fracture in his right foot, and he hasn't pitched since.