Blanks could be on track to return Wednesday

Rangers outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks, recovering from a pilonidal cyst procedure, traveled with the team to Oakland and could be activated from the disabled list Wednesday.

"That is a realistic possibility," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It depends on how he responds through the day. We'll see how he feels after his workout."

Blanks, who is hitting .322 with three home runs, has not played since May 19. He took batting practice and ran the bases on Sunday, then participated in full pregame activities on Tuesday.

"Ultimately, I want to get as healthy as I can," Blanks said. "My body feels pretty good right now, and I'm ready to take that out there."

Blanks would be a big help as a weapon against left-handed pitchers. A's lefty Scott Kazmir is scheduled to start Thursday's game.

Worth noting

• Infielder Adrian Beltre expressed some frustration over his stitched up left thumb Tuesday.

"It isn't healing as fast as I thought," he said. "I would like to keep doing more activities around this time, baseball-wise. But everything is kind of going a little slower than I thought."

• Left-hander Martin Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2014, will make his first rehab start Wednesday in Double-A Frisco. He's scheduled to throw three innings.

• Outfielder Ryan Rua (right-heel fracture) has hits in four of his first five rehab games, including a run-scoring single Tuesday night. Left-hander Matt Harrison gave up six earned runs on eight hits over five innings in a rehab start Monday night for the Round Rock Express.